In Russia, we eat a lot of heavy food like potatoes and lots of meat. I can't eat one apple or a salad a day. You wouldn't want to come talk to me if I don't eat. I have to eat, or I am in a really bad mood.
— Irina Shayk
For my body, I like high-waisted jeans because they make your leg look longer and hides this extra thing on my stomach. You can eat extra food with it because it hides, and I like to tuck in my t-shirts.
I hadn't planned to be a model. It just happened by pure chance. I went to a beauty school with my sister, and I got discovered pretty late. I was discovered when I was 20-21.
When it comes to lingerie, there are no rules. I feel the sexiest when I'm myself, no hair, no makeup.
I think family is our reason for being. I was lucky to be born into a very close-knit family.
Every year is beautiful, and I try to appreciate each moment in my career, but 30 was definitely one of my best.
My personal memories of the brand go way back to the time when I was a teenager. L'Oreal make-up felt like a real luxury for me, and I remember dreaming of purchasing a L'Oreal lipstick.
I couldn't speak any English when I first left Russia, and Intimissimi taught me everything. The team was like a family to me - they showed me how to model and how to stay in shape. They really believed in me.
I believe in eating what I like and sweating it out in the gym.
I love traveling. I hate jet lag, but I love, love, love, love traveling, to meet new people, to try different foods because I'm a big foodie.
My mom, she's a great cook. You know, pirogue, borscht. I love borscht, and I love Pilemeni, meat dumplings.
I'm very smart, and I have a great team of people around me investing my money. I'm not buying gold - yet.
We will all be gone one day. Not as a negative thing - as a positive thing, too, you know, and we should leave something behind ourselves.
This is my favorite area in New York - the West Village is the heart of New York. I could never move somewhere else.
I'm always sad to leave paradise, but I leave behind the hopes of coming again soon.
My favorite spot is the Maldives. Since I travel so much for work, I like to go to places that are very secluded and quiet.
Boys never liked me at school. They made fun of me 'cos I had dark skin.
I love food - I am never on a diet - I swear to God!
I hate jet lag, but I love, love, love, love traveling - to meet new people, to try different foods because I'm a big foodie. I love food, even though people think models don't eat. We do eat.
I'm from a very small village in the middle of nowhere, four hours by airplane from Moscow. Yemanzhelinsk - you wouldn't find it on the map. Don't even try it. It's super, super tiny.
I don't think there's a perfect time to have kids. I think first you have to find the perfect person.
I travel around the world, and there are so many beautiful girls, but that's not going to make you a supermodel. You have to have something more than just a pretty face.
When I was a teenager, I experimented a lot with hair colour, and the result was just awful.
You can't just dream about what you want and leave things to chance. You have to get it yourself.
I really love to play 'Moonlight Sonata' by Beethoven. I can still read music, but I need to practise more. The way your fingers move - it's something that comes from memory. I love music.
I spend time doing cardio because it makes me feel good.
When I grew up, my role model was my grandma because she's just the best.
Nothing is better than going home to family and eating good food and relaxing.
Just for you to know, people, models, are very smart. We're investing money in the right way, and, you know, a modeling job I'm taking as a businesswoman. So it's not fun for me; it's work.
You can't wear only one dress and be so safe. You have to risk; that's how you learn about yourself.
The only art I have is a Polaroid from Peter Beard from his book. I shot with him four years ago, and he did a special Polaroid for me, so I consider it a piece of art.
My father used to be a fisherman, so it always makes me feel close to him when I am there on the water catching my dinner.
You can't break Russian people, you know? 'Cos we're made in cold snow. We're very resistant.
I love high heels from the age of 10! Short skirts and then high heels. My classmates used to make fun of me. Like, 'Ooh, she's so skinny and she's wearing high heels.' But I just wore what I like, and I didn't care about people's opinions, the same as I don't care now.
I hate cardio; I hate to go for a run. I hate physical things. But Jiu Jitsu is fun because its self-defence and you get some good cardio.
I started my career as a swimsuit model. My first big break in America was 2007, 'Sports Illustrated' Swimsuit Issue.
I love seeing lingerie on the runway, but I personally think it's best to save it for the bedroom!
I would definitely like to start a family because it's the most important thing in the world and what you should take care of, along with your friends and the people you love.
You can see designers and fashion people bringing in older girls to do their shows - I'm not even afraid to say 'older.'
To me, being worth it means being independent and carving your own path. The L'Oreal woman is worth it because she wants to be.
My father died when I was 14, and my mother juggled two jobs so she could make sure my sister and I were OK.
The 'Hercules' role just kind of came to me, but I had a lot of fun trying something new.
You have to love your body, respect it, and treat it well.
I don't cook. I love to eat. I love to go to the restaurants.
I'm just collecting gold presents, which is more fun, actually, than buying gold.
I love Japan; it's very special.
I think whatever dress you wear, people will criticise you. Different people have different opinions.
You have to invest the money in a certain thing, because, you know, at 40, I want to enjoy my life. So I do a lot of investments. Apartments back in Russia and New York. It's a good thing to do.
While I can always use a break from the gym, I like to swim and dive to keep myself feeling good.
I started playing piano 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. But I can still play piano.
