NEW YORK — Irina Shayk has introduced herself to the world as the 2011 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model.
Shayk, 25, graces the cover under the headline "Paradise Found in Hawaii." She is the first Russian cover model and joins an elite group of swimsuit models to grace the cover, including Kathy Ireland, Christie Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, Heidi Klum, Elle MacPherson, Tyra Banks, Petra Nemcova and Marisa Miller.
This year's cover was shot by Bjorn Iooss—son of long-time Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss Jr.—who captured the photo with the first shot on his first-ever Sports Illustrated shoot.
Joining Shayk in this year's issue are returning models Cintia Dicker, Esti Ginzburg, Jessica Gomes, Julie Henderson, Damaris Lewis, Genevieve Morton, Hilary Rhoda, Chrissy Teigen, Anne V, Jessica White and Brooklyn Decker, who was last year's SI cover girl.
Newcomers this year include model Alyssa Miller, Izabel Goulart, Kate Upton, Kenza Fourati and Shannan Click.
Shayk hails from the small town of Emanzhelisk. She is currently dating Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo
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