I began to stan Irina Shayk back in 2018, before her split with Bradley Cooper (though the split made me stan harder). I had a moment while reading one of Irina’s interviews where I just felt like I finally *got* her: she’s a matter-of-fact Russian woman who does not care for all of these wellness crazes or salads or facials or whatever. She just wants to be left alone to eat French fries and watch Russian soap operas. And truly, I had to stan. Well, she still has that same energy and honestly, I love her. She covers the March issue of British Vogue. Some highlights:
She was the man of the house after her father died suddenly when she was 14: “I always felt like I was born in the wrong body. I felt I was supposed to be a boy… I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because my father always wanted a boy. When he passed away, I thought, ‘Since I’m a guy, now it’s my time to take care of the family.’ I said to myself I would never get married. Of course, later on in life I outgrew that, and I love being a woman. But I remember that feeling.”
She’s tough: “I have a strong personality and I definitely know what I want, and I think some men are scared of that. If somebody’s out of my life, they’re out of my life and I really cut all the ties, you know? I think some people are really scared of this coldness. I also think not many people know that underneath this there’s a nice, sweet person who cries in interviews.”
The split with Bradley Cooper: “I think in all good relationships you bring your best and your worst – it’s just the nature of a human being. Two great people don’t have to make a good couple. I think we’ve been very lucky to experience what we had with each other. Life without B is new ground.”
Being a single mom now: “It’s hard to find a balance between being a single mom and being a working woman and provider. Trust me, there are days I wake up and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I don’t know what to do, I’m falling apart.’”
I think her assessment of herself is probably dead-on: tough, haughty, hardborn-Russian exterior but once you get to know her, she’s probably very sweet and normal, in a “if you cross me, I will never speak to you again” sort of way. But I’m like that too, so I relate. And yeah, I don’t actually think there was a ton of drama with Bradley and Irina’s split. I think they were in a relationship, they had a baby and they fell apart and that’s life. Anyway, I love her.
Photos courtesy of WENN, cover courtesy of British Vogue.
“I have a strong personality and I definitely know what I want, and I think some men are scared of that. If somebody’s out of my life, they’re out of my life and I really cut all the ties, you know? I think some people are really scared of this coldness.“
I am Irina. Irina is me.
I like her
Omg you too? Two in one day.
three in one day.
SAME. Let me just say, its F*** hard to date in this state, but imagine being a gorgeous top model on top of it?!
Let me wedge my way in here. I am a very firm believer of When you are in you are IN & when you are out, well the phrase “dead to me” comes to mind. I believe we walk paths w/each other in life. Sometimes we are on the same path & there are times when our walk together ends & we take a different turn. Maybe our paths will join back up one day & maybe they won’t. In the meantime, I never look back.
So so same. Same. Cut them out. Be done. They showed you who they are. But I’m also incredibly loyal which seems weird. Daughter of a narcissist. Anyone else?
YES. Me too. I relate this this SO hard I almost took a screenshot. I am exactly like this. I have a very strong personality, I am often told that I am perceived as intimidating (which I kind of get, maybe because I’ve been told this my whole life, but also it kind of always surprises me…and yet I’m inexplicably proud of it somehow when I’m told this…maybe it gives me a sense of personal power..? No idea..) But I definitely know what I want and I protect healthy boundaries and insist on healthy relationships, and when I’m done w someone or something (like when that *moment* happens that I know I’m done), I’m done. I feel like that’s healthy, though. But I’m also deeply emotional, very sensitive, too empathic in daily life for my own good (I suspect this is true for MANY of us), and care so much for people and animals that it actually hurts my heart.
After reading that quote of hers, I’m a forever Irina Stan. I just am.
She’s a beautiful woman in general but she’s so gorgeous she smiles! I prefer seeing pics of her on the red carpet than in photo shoots. Also I was never that into Bradley Cooper until I heard him speak French in an interview- swoon!
she gets 24k gold facials, I follow a lot of facials on instagram and they always post about her. Mimi Luzon is just one
“If somebody’s out of my life, they’re out of my life and I really cut all the ties, you know? I think some people are really scared of this coldness.”
I’ve never heard another woman say this, and when I said as much to a group of friends out for drinks, you’d have thought I killed their kitties. But the fact remains, I’ve never been to reunions, I don’t have childhood friends with whom I keep in touch, if you’re out of my life, I move forward. I guess it is cold? I love big, I’m generous and kind, and I hurt and carry pain of traumatic crap in my life and I simply can’t add to that. There no room. And it’s an easy turn around for me. I realize I have walls, but I want them there lol.
I’m the same way. And I find it refreshing hearing another woman say it out loud.
Another one! I love you two.
Umm…do we have the same friends lol?!!!?
I don’t think could be someone who gives chance after chance…I don’t have the energy or patience
I just don’t think they like hearing out loud that we will not be tried and they are no exception
Honestly same, I don’t keep up with my friends from my first university, and I finished it like two years ago, I don’t talk about my school friends. If you’re out – you’re out. My mom says I’m cold-blooded lizard because of it.
Same here! I like be finding out that so many of us here are like this. I am made to feel like people believe this trait is negative, but I personally appreciate it. I’m not wishy washy, I know what I want, and when I have made a decision, that’s it. No looking back. Always forward, never back.
I’m the same way. I’d like to think I’m a very kind, compassionate person. But I also have a coldness in me that I don’t see a lot of other women express. When people hurt me, I’m done with them and don’t regret it. When I’m no longer happy with friends, I have no problem letting them go. Even with celebrities — if they mess up in a way I find unforgivable, even if they’re my favorite actor/musician/whatever, I’m like, “Well it’s been a good run and now I never want to look at this person ever again. BYE.” I don’t mess around lol.
wonderfully healthy attitude. Traditionally, women are so often forced into complying and making nice because, oh, well, be a lady, LOL. Once you kind of figured out who you are and what’s good for you and you see through people or see what they are really about, no reason to drag them along and make your own life miserable on account of not wanting to hurt others. You can still be you and friendly just not a doormat. Some people hate it when a person grows into their own and become comfortable with who they are and outright want to hinder them from becoming something better, a better version of themselves.
Same! 🙂
Why would I want to have a ‘friend’ who screwed me over in my inner circle?
Omg! I have soul sisters.
Anyone else have resting bitch faces? Now that I can’t help. If I try, I get laughed at.
Resting bitch face here! Me me me! But it really is just my resting face and it’s just my natural mask for all of the thinking, feeling, and the million other emotional happenings going on underneath it at all times.
That said, it is awfully convenient at times. Like when I don’t want people to come talk to me and they take one look at my face and don’t. I feel like I’ve scared away many a man who would’ve otherwise been a creep. Also, sales people. Heh!
Beautiful women irk a lot of women. I’ve always loved her, but she’s beautiful, so plenty of people make assumptions about her and what she must be like. We don’t really know any of these folks. She never seemed to be someone who got into trouble or caused it, so it didn’t make sense to me when she was judged poorly on gossip sights. I’ve always been a fan of Irina and probably always will be.
I’m not like her. I’m more emotional and messy, but I also cut people off if they screw with me. She is relatable to me because I always worked hard to make my own money so that men couldn’t take over my life, but they did do it when I was broke, and it was awful. I eventually slept on people’s couches to get away since I never made model money in LA, but women who stand on their own don’t get the kudos we deserve. Always better to be alone than to be alone and used in a bad relationship or to have a bunch of users as “friends”.
AMEN!!!!!!!!
I don’t think it’s cold, it’s more like determination, but since she’s a woman people label to the worst. I’m not a da fan but I’m glad she doesn’t allow abusive people in her life.
Saw her on Letterman (?) a long time ago, and she won me over in about 30 seconds. She was much smarter, funnier, and down to earth than I ever thought she would be.
[*And saucy!*]
Glad to hear there are more people like me. My mother always said I was cold. I just don’t have time for people who screw me over. I move on. I have one best friend from high school but I guess I give a lot so I expect a lot and when I don’t get that in return I cut people off. I don’t do the whole fake acquaintances, it’s just not me. I don’t have regrets because I am firm in what I feel. Nice to know I’m not broken as my mother would have me believe (I never thought I was).
Irina is one of the most beautiful models. But I kinda “follow” her by accident because I follow Bradley and there is a lot of not flattering photos and videos about her personal life easy to find online. There is a mismatch between what she says in interviews and the way she behaves behind closed doors that makes me uncomfortable.
I think women should be allowed to be complicated in the same way men are allowed to be complicated. She was born in the Soviet Union , daughter of a coal miner, and he died when she was 14. By her own admission, she had to be tough. I don’t think any non-Soviet-born people can really understand what it was like to have to crawl your way out of that. There are a lot of beautiful women from the Eastern Bloc and Russia, but you have to be one tough nut to be successful from being beautiful. I admire her resilience.
I know her story and my comment was not about her not having the right to be complicated or to have a strong personality. My comment was mostly about the difference with the image she tries to portray herself in interviews versus how she behaves in real life. Mostly in the last days, Instagram Stories of her and her friends during Fashion Weeks in London, Milan and Paris show several drunk and vulgar moments. She seems to be a different woman when she is not with her daughter. I am old school I guess, but I find her vulgar and immature from what I see of her and her friends social media and I “follow” her since she was with B. Cooper. She has a 3 year old daughter to whom she is a role model. Getting drunk and partying with vulgarity several nights during Fashion Weeks is not the best things to show to your daughter.
I remember reading last summer about how she and Bradley don’t have a written custody agreement. That just seems so risky and a little suspicious to be honest. Even if things are amicable and friendly between them now (which I don’t believe), that’s right now. What would happen a few years down the road if things are not so amicable and there is nothing in writing, especially when they both start dating again? It sounds like it could get messy.