Irina Shayk

Super model Irina Shayk was born on January 6, 1986 in Salavat, Bashkortostan, Russia.She best known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue beginning in 2007 and as the face of lingerie brand Intimissimi.

Shayk grew up in the Russian village of Yemanzhelinsk. Her mother was a pianist who was the music teacher in a kindergarten, and her father was a coal miner. She has one older sister named Tatiana.Shayk experienced a sudden tragedy at 14 years old when her father passed away from pneumonia.After high school, Shayk studied marketingbut was bored by it and entered a local beauty school with her elder sister.A fashion executive discovered her in 2004, during a lengthy three-day train trip from Chelyabinsk to Moscow. That chance encounter convinced her to pursue a career in modeling.

At the age of 19, she started her career as a model in Paris.In 2007, she took over for Brazilian model Ana Beatriz Barrosas the face of Intimissimi (a role she had until 2009) and gained international recognition as a “rookie” in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.The well-thumbed publication is routinely read by millions of men around the world, and her inclusion promises to transform this curvy goddess into a global star.Her magazine covers include Annabelle, Jalouse, Bolero .

Since 2007, Shayk has also appeared in campaigns for La Perla, Paciotti 4US, Germaine de Capuccini, and Armani Exchange (spring/fall season 2010). and has modeled for the Victoria’s Secret catalog. As the face of Beach Bunny swimwear, she designed two bathing suits featured in the 2010 SI Swimsuit Issue. She was also a “Guess girl” for three seasons.

Shayk started 2011 the same way she finished 2010: red hot. She began by gracing the January cover of the Spanish edition of Glamour, who coined her as the Best International Model of 2010.