Fast Five WITH IRINA SHAYK
1 BACK IN THE USSR
Shayk was born in Russia in 1986, back when there was a Soviet Union. Her dad was a coal miner and her mum a music teacher. She studied music for many years as a child but wound up going to beauty school, where she was discovered by a modelling agent. She entered a beauty contest and became Miss Chelyabinsk 2004.
2 UNDERWEAR
When it comes to wearing bras and panties, Shayk is one of the best. She got her start modelling for the Italian lingerie brand Intimissimi, and then went on to become a Victoria's Secret Angel. To say she looks nice in her underwear is a huge understatement. She told Vogue in 2012, "I never thought I'd have a career like this, but I've got good genes so the underwear posing was OK." OK? Girlfriend, it was more than just OK.
3 MRS HERCULES
Unless you consider appearing in Sports Illustrated swimsuit videos acting, Shayk hasn't done much acting.
In Hercules, her first movie gig, she plays Hercules' former wife Megara. We only see her in flashbacks because Hercules apparently went nuts and killed her and their kids! Or maybe he didn't. (Go see the film if you want to be sure.)
In a recent interview she told Vogue, "It's my first time, but hopefully not the last time! It was a very small role but a very important character for the movie and I felt this was something I could definitely handle. Also, my name is Greek, Irina, so I felt attached to the film right away."
4 RONALDO
Shayk has been famously dating football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for the past four years. Sad but true, two of the planet's most beautiful people fell for each other. They look perfect together, and I bet they get it on all the time, because... well, just look at them.
The pair apparently met during an Armani Exchange photo shoot. She says she loves him because he's generous and funny, not because he's a rich, sexy sportsman. Of course!
5 THINK OF THE CHILDREN
There's no reason a girl like this has to care about anyone in the world besides herself, so let's give her full marks for her charity work. She is the official ambassador of the Pomogi charity which helps sick children in her native Russia. She made it her mission to rebuild the children's ward of her hometown hospital. Good going, girl.
FAST FACTS
Name: Irina Shayk
Born: Jan 6, 1986, Russia
Sports Illustrated Videography (Shayk has no movie credits outside of Hercules): Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit 2007; Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit 2008; Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit 2009; Exposure: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2011; Sports Illustrated: The Making of Swimsuit 2012; Sports Illustrated: The Making Of Swimsuit 2013; Sports Illustrated: The Making Of SI's Swimsuit 2014: From Sand To Space
From fashion to film
Models who sashayed into Hollywood
Milla Jovovich in the Resident Evil franchise (2002 to present)
Emily Ratajkowski in David Fincher's Gone Girl (2014)
Kate Upton in The Three Stooges (2012), The Other Woman (2014)
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (2011)
Olga Kurylenko in Quantum Of Solace (2008), Centurion (2010), Oblivion (2013)
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