“I never thought of a career of as a model, and it was a total surprise...” — Irina Shayk Quote

I never thought of a career of as a model, and it was a total surprise for me when I won the contest and became Miss Chelyabinsk. Then I started modelling in Paris.

I love traveling. I hate jet lag, but I love, love, love, love traveling, to meet new people, to try different foods because I'm a big foodie.

I couldn't speak any English when I first left Russia, and Intimissimi taught me everything. The team was like a family to me - they showed me how to model and how to stay in shape. They really believed in me.

I spend time doing cardio because it makes me feel good.

My father died when I was 14, and my mother juggled two jobs so she could make sure my sister and I were OK.

The presidency is more than a popularity contest.

We improve ourselves by victories over ourselves. There must be contest, and we must win.

You bring a car out, you're going to win any dunk contest.

We were very poor, and I entered a talent contest as a young teenager because if you entered, even if you didn't win, they gave you a free blouse.

I believe that detente was having almost the opposite effect of what was intended. What was intended was to sort of end the contest for power and to stop Soviet expansion, especially by military means and the military build-up, the military contest.