Irina Shayk: 15 Things You Didn’t Know (Part 1)

You’ve probably seen Irina Shayk in magazines, but how much do you really know about what’s her? The 30-year-old Russian beauty has been making waves in the modeling industry, and she’s become even more recognizable since she began dating actor Bradley Cooper. However, despite the fact that Shayk has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Irina Shayk. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!

Number Fifteen: She Has Humble Roots. Shayk was raised by a teacher and a miner in a small Russian village. She was discovered by a modeling agency next-door to the beauty school where her sister attended. She was walking her sister to the school one day when the agency noticed her.

Number Fourteen: She Shortened Her Name to Help You Out. Shayk’s full last name is Shaykhlislamova, which is a bit of a mouthful. She shortened it to “Shayk” to help people pronounce her name more easily.

Number Thirteen: If She Wasn’t a Model, She’d Be a Musician. Shayk began taking piano lessons when she was just six years old, and she was in the choir as a young girl as well. In fact, she studied at music school for seven years, but she later quit.

Number Twelve: She Doesn’t Believe in Diets. It’s true! Shayk has an amazing body, but she doesn’t believe in fad dieting. She credits a steady, healthy diet, regular exercise, and good genetics for her gorgeous bod.

Number Eleven: She’s a Dog Lover. Shayk’s dog is named Caesare – after Julius. And he’s famous, too! Caesare is the son of the dog featured in the hit film Marley & Me.

Number Ten: She Was the First Russian to Cover Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue. Shayk landed the coveted cover in 2011.

Number Nine: She’s a Famous Actress in Russia. Shayk might be most well-known for her modeling career in the United States, but she’s got some acting chops in her homeland of Russia. Shayk was a judge on the Russian version of America’s Next Top Model. Stay tuned for part two of our list of 15 things you didn’t know about Irina Shayk, coming soon!