Irina Sheik

Russian Supermodel 

Profile
Popular name          Irina Sheik
Full name                Irina Shaykhlislamova
Birth date                January 6, 1986
Birth place              Yemanzhelinsk City, Russia
Height                    5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Hair color               Brown
Eye color               Green
Measurements        34-23-35 (US); 86.5-58-88 (EU)
Dress size              (US) 4; (EU) 34


Biography
Irina Shayk grew up in a Russian village so small that "we didn't even have fashion magazines," she offers which is to say that a career of being photographed for them wasn't exactly in the cards. But, it turns out, all it took was a response to an ad her mother saw at a bus stop (in a slightly larger village) to rapidly put into motion the inevitable transition from marketing student to globe-trotting model.

That was six years ago, and since then Irina's hit an impressive run of jaw-dropping SI Swimsuit spreads, taken to calling New York City home, and nuzzled up to superstar Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. She won't talk about their relationship but is willing (giggling, in fact) to part with at least this secret: "I'm not a fan of soccer, for sure not." After winning the "Supermodel 2004" Chelyabinsk beauty pageant, scout Guia Jikidze recommended Shayk pursue a career as a model. In 2007, Shayk debuted in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and has appeared in each annual edition since, working with photographers like Pamela Hanson, Steve Erle, Riccardo Tinelli, Rennio Maifredi, and Raphael Mazucco, and shooting in locations such as St. Petersburg, Naples Grenada and Chile.