The stunner was born Irina Shaykhlislamova on January 6, 1986 in the small Russian city of Yemanzhelinsk, near the border of Kazakhstan. A chance encounter with a fashion executive on a train ride from Chelyabinsk to Moscow encouraged the dark-haired beauty to pursue modeling as a serious career. Her instincts paid off, as before long the Irina had signed on with her mother agency, Traffic, and was traveling all over the world.

Irina has graced the covers of many international glossies, including Annabelle, Jalouse, and Bolero, and has starred in campaigns for brands like Guess, Lacoste, and La Perla. Her big launch into the spotlight came in 2007, when Irina was picked to showcase her sinuous curves in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. She graduated from the rookie ranks the following year by modeling in the issue again, and cemented her sexy girl status with a third appearance in 2009.