The Russian model and TV personality Irina Shayk opened up about why she had always struggled to keep up with traditional feminine expectations.
Shayk is known for her impeccable physique and striking features. The favorite of renowned fashion designers, photographers, and brands, she has walked the runways for top fashion brands like Versace, Givenchy, and Marc Jacobs. But before achieving international stardom, there was a time when she used to run away from her own self.
Irina Shayk Felt Uncomfortable in Her Own Body
In a recent interview with Elle, Irina Shayk recalled her old times when she used to run with the conventional attributes and societal norms of a woman. The supermodel told the interviewer that she was the daughter of a coal miner in Yemanzhelinsk (a small town in Russia).
Talking about her interests and ambitions, the 37-year-old model asserted that she never aspired to be a model. She disclosed that her “dad had always wanted to have a boy.”
Bradley Cooper‘s ex-girlfriend then told the outlet that this became a reason she felt uncomfortable in her own body. She said, “I always thought I was born in the wrong body.” The beauty mogul added:
“I hated being a girl. I remember fights with my mom; she wanted to dress me in something flowery. I wanted dark colors and something solid. It wasn’t that I wanted to be a boy, but I felt like, ‘I don’t belong to my body.’”
At that time, she even couldn’t relate to her own sister.
Irina Shayk Couldn’t Relate to Her Sister’s Beauty Interests
Irina Shayk later told in the conversation that she didn’t connect with her sister (Tatiana Petenkova-Shaykhlislamova) as she was interested in beauty and glamour, while Irina Shayk was “completely opposite.” Her sister is also a model by profession.
At last, the Hercules actress said that in her childhood, she preferred smaller lips. And to achieve that look, she used to clamp down on them.
Shayk’s superstardom came to her when she won the Miss Chelyabinsk beauty contest at the age of 19. Her breakthrough stardom came in 2007 with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover. It gave her international recognition and opened her doors in the fashion world.
