Early Life and Background

Irina was born to a Russian mother and an ethnic Tatar father. Her mother was a pianist and a kindergarten music teacher, while her father worked as a coal miner. Irina has an older sister who pursued music, becoming a pianist and singer. When Irina was 14, her father passed away due to complications from pneumonia, compelling her mother to work two jobs to support the family.

After completing high school, Shayk initially studied marketing but later switched to beauty school, where she began her path into modeling. Her striking looks quickly gained recognition, and she won the Miss Chelyabinsk 2004 beauty contest, marking the beginning of her modeling career.

Modeling Career and Rise to Fame

Shayk's international modeling career took off in 2007 when she became the face of Intimissimi and made her debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She went on to appear in the annual Swimsuit editions for several consecutive years, with photoshoots in exotic locations such as St. Petersburg, Naples, Grenada, and Chile. In 2010, she was named the official ambassador of Intimissimi after three years as the brand's face.

In May 2009, Irina signed with prestigious modeling agency IMG. She expanded her portfolio by modeling for global brands including Guess, Beach Bunny, Victoria’s Secret catalog, Lacoste, Cesare Paciotti, Morellato, and Armani Exchange, among others. She was also prominently featured in editorial campaigns and cover shoots for international editions of top fashion magazines such as Elle Spain, Cosmopolitan, Tatler Russia, Marie Claire (Ukraine, Spain, and Russia), Glamour Russia, GQ South Africa, Vogue Spain, and Ocean Drive.