Model, actress, and mom (with Bradley Cooper’s baby… did we mention that?
), Irina Shayk is the total package.
She has continued to grow in her career and expanded into the acting world as well.
She described her upbringing toEsquire, saying, “Yemanzhelinsk is a very small coal-mining village.
There’s nothing there, only coal mining.
It’s not on any maps.We didn’t even have a movie theater.
We had one street.
There was a garden that was 30 minutes away, by walk.
I was taking care of the potatoes and the tomatoes and the cucumbers.”
And Shayk saw her fair share of tough times.
But Shayk has no regrets when it comes to her childhood.
She now appreciates her life and accomplishments even more.
It’s easier, sure, but what’s the point?"
Excellent point, Shayk.
She’s actually a triple threat with some serious musical skills as well.
She opened up toEsquireabout her past and her background in music.
“I started playing piano [at] age six.
I was also singing in the choir, so my mum put me into music school.
I went to study there for seven years, but it was not my passion.
I quit because I wanted to study marketing.”
Shayk is officially a superstar.
And even though music may not be her passion, Shayk has not given up playing for fun.
She told the magazine, “But I can still play piano.
I like Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.”
You need a lot of practice to play that.”
Practice makes perfect, and Shayk is pure perfection.
It all makes sense now.
Her sister worked at a beauty school next door to a modeling school.
After some months, she said yes.
Shayk toldThe Telegraph, “I thought it might be a great opportunity to help my family.”
She said age 20 was a pretty late start in the modeling world.
In Paris, she struggled with the language and lived with models who would make fun of her.
During the interview, Shayk opened up about the struggles of being a model.
“It’s a difficult business, it’s very competitive.
But Shayk is able to see the positives.
She later said it just takes someone’s “yes” to keep going.
From Paris, Shayk moved on to Barcelona, where she ended up succeeding.
It takes hard work to reach your goals, and Shayk’s story tells just that.
When asked if things were awkward with her sister because she won, Shayk set the record straight withEsquire.
“It was not awkward with my sister, no.
She didn’t even go in for the competition ‘cos she was busy doing the make-up and hair.”
After she won, Shayk did not let it go to her head.
I say no, I would not.
Because first of all I want to finish my education.
But after a couple of months I decided to try it.
It was a big decision to go from a tiny village to Paris.
It’s a big shock for the brains.”
She stuck it out and we’re so glad she did.
She’s a low-key lady
Even with fame and fortune, Shayk has kept a level head.
She remembers her simpler beginnings and doesn’t need all of the glam and glory.
Speaking withThe Telegraph, she described her day-to-day style and living.
First off, she hates to waste money on clothes.
And getting all dolled-up?
She’d rather not.
My style is very simple; I attempt to be low-key.
I can spend my day in sweat pants or gym clothes.
She keeps that same level-head when it comes to the attention that fame brings.
My friends and family know who I am.
I’m not mad at anybody; they’re writing something because it’s their job.
I’m just doing my job."
She makes taking the high road even classier.
“I get so many requests: ‘Do this magazine.
Do this campaign,‘But you have to be smart.
I would never doPlayboy.
Yes, I am a lingerie model, but I have class.Playboyoffered me so much money last year.
I was like:No.
She toldEsquire, “Alright, Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer did it.
But they did it at the end of their career and it was classy.
I think of myself as a cover girl.
But I would never do some kind of cheesy magazine.”
She spoke about her role withGlamourand said how fun the change of pace was from modeling.
Shayk is still focused on modeling but wants to keep going with acting if the right opportunities present themselves.
you’re able to never plan, it’s like a lottery.
Modelling opens so many doors television hosting, acting, designing so you could never plan.
Let’s see.”
We’re sure the opportunities will keep lining up for the woman who it seems can do no wrong.
She said, “Maybe as a Russian spy!”
Yes, we can see it.
Hollywood, make this movie ASAP and we have your star!
Another great example of this is the charity work she has done throughout the years for her home country.
It’s always refreshing to see a star take time to give back.
From false break-ups to talk of marriage, it was hard to tell what was true or false.
Shayk has also met Cooper’s mom, and the couple seems to be going strong.
Good for Shayk for keeping this part of her life private.
