Model Irina Shayk gets candid about diets, work ethic and the beauty secret she swears by

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26th Jun 2019

“The beginning of my career was pretty tough,” the Russian-born supermodel shared with over email. “I started quite late — when I was 19 — and my first model trip was to Paris. It was a difficult but very intense time — I had to learn how to work as a model, learn English, learn how to pose… But in life nothing comes easy and you have to work hard to achieve something.”

That strong work ethic has panned out; the now 33-year-old mother-of-one has made up for her late start in the modelling industry with a lookbook of high profile brand campaigns, magazine covers and runway appearances — including the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show — the envy of any model working today.

Shayk, who has a two-year-old daughter, Lea De Seine Shayk Cooper, with ex, Bradley Cooper, doesn’t seem to have skipped a career beat since becoming a mum. If anything, she’s even more in-demand than ever. 

The model has recently been named the face of Jean Paul Gaultier’s Scandal A Paris fragrance, a pairing that seems a natural fit, given the important role fragrance plays in the model’s life. 

“I can say that perfume is an important part of my life. I have a very simple beauty routine and I think that the fragrance is the final touch that completes the look but does not overtake your personality. Once you find your signature perfume it stays with you for years, and I guess I found mine. That’s why Scandal A Paris is very special for me — it makes me feel confident and stays with me the whole day. I am not a big fan of perfumes that travel in front of you like a big heavy cloud, I love perfumes that are light, elegant, flirty, and stay close to my skin.”

Irina Shayk in the Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal A Paris campaign. Image credit: supplied

With a self-described “simple beauty routine”, we had to ask what the model’s secret to looking completely flawless and red carpet-ready is and her answer is something so simple.

“The key to the perfect look is enough sleep. I try to sleep at least nine hours before an important event. When I wake up I like to go to the gym and to a steam room — it gives me great energy and makes skin look perfect. For the red carpet I prefer to wear minimum make-up – I love a natural radiant look.”

In line with her approach to simplified beauty, the model revealed that she follows a basic equation for staying runway and swimsuit shoot-ready and it’s simple enough to adopt into our own lives. 

“I don’t believe in diets, I think food is an important part of one’s life and it makes a person happy, so I find a balance between eating and working out. I like to do Pilates [reformer], work out with my trainer and walk a lot.” 

Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal A Paris will be available from July 7, 2019.