Irina Shayk is enjoying the sun, sea, sand (and pigs!) on vacation in a tropical location—and even onetime beau Bradley Cooper makes an appearance. The model posted a series of photos of herself wearing a gorgeous bathing suit on Instagram, with one fan commenting “BAHAMA MAMA 🔥.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 6 ways Shayk stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don’t miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!
“I’ve got great genes to thank for my fast metabolism, but I still have to find a balance between food and working out because when I eat, I really eat!” Shayk tells Women’s Health. “Give me a burger and I’ll follow it up with a piece of cake. In fact, two days ago I had a huge burger with cheese, French fries, lots of ketchup and mayo and a large Sprite. But in the name of balance, I got up the next morning, did 30 minutes of barre in my room and ate steamed fish and grilled vegetables for dinner. I’m from Russia, so I’ve been brought up on hearty food like meat and dumplings and potato stews in big warming portions, but if I’m preparing for a shoot or show, I’ll eat particularly clean – salads and soups – to ensure a flat stomach. Then jump on a burger straight after!”
“I wash my face twice a day, religiously,” Shayk says. “I like my skin to feel as clean as possible all the time – I don’t even use foundation because it actually makes my face feel dirty. To get away with wearing hardly any make-up, I make sure I always moisturize. Some people find a favorite product and stick with it for years but I swap between moisturizers every week so my skin doesn’t get too used to one formula and becomes immune to its benefits. But I always go back to Cetaphil, it’s like $6 from any pharmacy and makes my skin smooth and clear. I grew up poor, so spending lots of money on beauty products you can make at home doesn’t make sense to me.I mix honey, salt and sugar as a body scrub – it’s as good as anything you get in posh shops.”
“I’m a model, but I love to eat,” Shayk tells PEOPLE. “Sometimes when I’m on set I keep eating and people are like, ‘You really eat that?’ I’m like, ‘Yes, I do.’ When I was growing up in Russia my grandmothers would cook the best pancakes in the world: the best meatballs, the best dumplings. So I really, really love food. And I don’t understand how people don’t eat. I do eat everything.”
“Well, I have good genes [so] I thank my family,” Shayk says. “But I work out a lot. I do boxing, I do a little jiu jitsu which I am obsessed with. It is so much fun [and] I have the best trainer. You have to find the best workout for your body. You have to balance between eating and working out.”
“I love the open water,” Shayk says. “I may not be able to drive a car, but I’m a trained Open Water Diver and it’s an unforgettable experience every single time. Every time I travel, I try to get to the sea and explore that part of the world underwater. They say divers have more life experience than those who don’t because it teaches you to appreciate the world we live in from a completely different perspective. When I’m trying to relax in New York, I connect to my heritage. There are three Russian TV channels that I can access from the US and I’m perfectly happy to watch them all day. Or head to the spa. To spend an entire day being pampered – fancy manicures, pedicures, massages, facials – it’s heaven. I’m a true Russian!”
Shayk and personal trainer Justin Gelband put together a workout routine that can be done in any hotel room—no equipment required. “I’m in hotel rooms most of the time, and it can be hard to find a hotel with a nice gym,” Shayk says. “It was important for me to have a workout I could do in my room. If you’re feeling jet lagged, or too lazy to get dressed, you can basically watch TV and do these moves.”