Swimsuit

Irina Shayk Posed With a Stingray During Her SI Swim Photoshoot in Tahiti

The Russian model has appeared in 10 separate magazines with the brand.

Cara O’Bleness

Irina Shayk

Irina Shayk was photographed by Yu Tsai in Bora Bora, Tahiti.

When Irina Shayk traveled to Bora Bora in 2016, it was her 10th consecutive year posing for the SI Swimsuit Issue. She first stepped in front of the lens for the brand in 2007, when she worked with photographer Pamela Hanson in Arizona. Several photoshoots later, which took her everywhere from her native Russia to Italy to Chile to her 2011 cover in Hawai’i, she found herself posing with some dangerous creatures in the ocean.

Not only did Shayk model for a few snapshots alongside a stingray, but there were also sharks in the area. “It was kind of dangerous,” the 37-year-old revealed of her time on location in Tahiti. 

Shayk maintained a professional disposition as always, and the resulting images from her photoshoot are beyond stunning. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the model and mom of one also reflected on her time with SI Swimsuit fondly. 

“They discovered me back in 2007, [and] 10 years later, I’m still here and I’m not going anywhere,” she said with a laugh.

Since her first SI Swimsuit feature back in 2007, Shayk has posed for the publication 14 times and been included in 10 different issues (doubling up for multiple photoshoots some years). She was the first Russian model to ever appear on the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue, and has also worked with notable brands like Versace, Intimissimi, Victoria’s Secret and many others.

Below, we’re throwing it back to a few of our favorite photos from her adventurous SI Swimsuit feature in Tahiti.

Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk
Published
Cara O’Bleness

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara is a trending news writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A passionate writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience in print and online media, she loves storytelling and believes that words have the power to change the world. Prior to joining the team, Cara worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, Cara loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University's School of Journalism.