Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend Irina Shayk in tears as she learns she is cover star of 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

• Irina celebrated at New York Sports Illustrated party last night with a bevy of other models

Irina Shayk’s career seems to be moving from strength to strength.
The girlfirend of Cristiano Ronaldo, who fronts the 2011 Sports Illustrated’s annual Swimsuit Issue, cried tears of joy as the cover was revealed on The Late Show with David Letterman on Monday night.
She was accompanied on the show by a group of other swimsuit models, but only one could nab the coveted spot.

Tears of joy: Irina Shayk cries as her Sports Illustrated cover is unveiled

Beach beauty: Miss Shayk features on the cover of the 2011 annual edition of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue

Backstage, the group gathered, and Miss Shayk was pictured laughing and wiping away her tears after the TV host made the shock announcement.
Last night she celebrated at a party hosted in New York to celebrate the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue and was joined by the likes of Brookyln Decker.
The news had still yet to sink in yesterday morning, as Miss Shayk appeared on breakfast programme The Today Show.

 

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'To be on the cover of Sports Illustrated is a dream come true,' she said. 'We Russians, you know, we know all the secrets, but I didn't know I was landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and it was so surprising to me. I was in shock; I was crying'.
The model posed for the provocative photo shoot months ago in Hawaii and the Philippines at a number of pristine beaches.

Guest of honour: Irina chats to the bevy of models who turned out to last night's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit launch party in New York

Delighted: Seen here posing proudly alongside the cover of this month's magazine

And she clearly made an impression on the magazine’s editor in her pink and yellow Sauvage by Elizabeth Southwood bikini to land the cover.
The 25-year-old accompanied her skimpy swimsuit with an Ettika bracelet as she accentuated her curves with an array of poses for photographer Bjorn Looss.
But it wasn’t until last night that she found out that her photo shoot was picked to adorn the magazine’s cover.

Red carpet beauties: Fellow Sports Illustrated stars Brooklyn Decker and, right, Hilary Rhoda also attended the bash

Curvy: Model Kate Upton kept it short and sweet while Damaris Lewis donned a black and silver design complete with a lace panel

Irina said on the U.S show: ‘There were 10 models there to do (Letterman’s) Top 10 List, and nobody knows until the last minute who the cover will be… And then I saw it, and I couldn’t believe it.’
The nine other swimsuit models who appeared on the show were Anne Vyalitsyna, Julie Henderson, Kate Upton, Alyssa Miller, Chrissy Teigen, Hilary Rhoda, Genevieve Morton, Damaris Lewis and Izabel Goulart.
During her appearance on the Late Show, Irina proved she looks just as good in a mini-dress as she does in a swimsuit as she arrived in a skimpy red silk dress.

Strutting their stuff: Izabel Goulart dazzled in silver and Alyssa Miller went for a strapless LBD

The lady in red accompanied her outfit with classic black Christian Louboutins and a matching black clutch.

And there to support the model was her beau Ronaldo, who strolled into the Ed Sullivan Theater in a brown leather jacket and aviator sunglasses.
Although the latest edition marks the fifth time Irina has appeared in the magazine, she has become the first Russian cover model for Sport’s Illustrated Annual Issue.

News still sinking in: Irina talks with Today show co-hosts Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer earlier yesterday about being picked for the cover of the magazine

Different outfit, same coat: The day after her appearance on Letterman, the model stepped out in New York in two different dresses, but the same coat

Fellow models: Irina posed with her fellow swimsuit models Kate Upton (left), Anne V and Izabel Goulart (right) outside the Letterman TV studios on Monday

Before the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition official unveiling on Letterman, photos of Shayk were leaked on a New York City billboard for extra publicity.

The week before the unveiling, posters of Irina, Brooklyn Decker and Anne Vyalitsyna were placed around the Big Apple to generate curiously over who would be the 2011 annual cover girl.
Irina was discovered while on a train to Moscow in 2004 and has since made a big impression on the modelling industry.
Do you have a story about a celebrity? Call the Daily Mail showbusiness desk on 0207 938 6364 or 0207 938 6683. For U.S. stories, phone 310 642 2317.

Lady in red: Irina wore a little red dress while holding a matching rose for her appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman in NYC

Biggest fan: Irina's supporter and boyfriend Cristiano Ronaldo made sure to join her at the Ed Sullivan Theatre