In the November 2023 issue of Elle US, top model Irina Shayk presents a bold and stylish look on the cover. Captured by photographer Daniel Jackson, Shayk models Ferragamo‘s latest ensemble, consisting of a chic jacket, slip, handbag and sandals. The look is completed with elegant earrings and a Van Cleef & Arpels watch.
Fashion stylist Alex White selected clothes from renowned designers such as Celine by Hedi Slimane, Brandon Maxwell, Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Alaïa, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello and Chanel for the cover story. Bob Recine created the hairstyle, Fulvia Farolfi the make-up and Rica Romain the manicure. The production of this captivating shoot was directed by Travis Kiewel of That One Production.
In the busy world of fashion and celebrities, Irina Shayk is an exemplar of determination and self-reliance. In a rare and candid interview with Elle US, Shayk reflects on the journey of her life, from her humble beginnings in a small Russian town to her rise as a global fashion icon.
Born in Yemanzhelinsk, Russia, to a coal miner father and a pianist mother, Shayk’s early life was marked by simplicity and adversity. The untimely death of her father when she was just 14 years old was the instiller of a sense of responsibility and resilience in her. “I remember her face to this day,” Shayk recalls of her grandmother’s reaction to her father’s death. That pivotal moment marked the beginning of her journey to become the family’s pillar of strength.
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Shayk’s foray into modeling was not a childhood dream, but a happy twist of fate. Discovered at a cosmetology school, she embarked on a career that would take her from the confines of her small town to the glamorous runways of Paris and New York. Though she faced initial skepticism because of her unconventional look for high fashion – her curves and skin tone were often whispered about – Shayk was undeterred. “I had agents who said, ‘Lose 20 pounds.’ I was like, ‘Absolutely fucking no,'” she says, demonstrating her unwavering confidence.
Her persistence paid off. Shayk’s breakthrough came with her appearance in the 2007 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and there has been no looking back since. She has graced the campaigns of luxury brands like Marc Jacobs, Versace, and Fendi, defying the odds and breaking the mold of a typical swimsuit model.
She speaks fondly of Cooper, describing him as “the best father Lea and I could dream of.’’ Their commitment to co-parenting and maintaining a normal life for their daughter in New York City is a priority for Shayk.
Despite her success, Shayk remains grounded and attributes her work ethic to her upbringing. “We want to show our daughter, ‘You have to work hard to get something,'” she says, emphasizing the values she wants to instill in her child.
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