Irina Shayk has never shied away from provocation, but her latest project takes things several steps further. The supermodel stripped everything back — literally — for a bold new editorial with V Magazine, delivering one of the most daring visuals of her career.
Shot by Steven Klein and styled by Patti Wilson, the photoshoot leans heavily into leather, power, and raw presence. The concept is sharp, confrontational, and unapologetically intense — and Shayk fully commits.
In the most striking image, she poses completely naked, her body covered only by a dramatic leather cape and black leather boots. There’s no attempt to soften the moment. A black choker and matching leather wrist cuffs complete the look, reinforcing the editorial’s dominant, almost ritualistic mood.
Another image pushes the boundary even further. Shayk is photographed topless beside a horse, wearing nothing but a black leather apron and thigh-high boots, her back fully exposed. The image is stark, controlled, and deliberately unsettling — more art than glamour.
Shayk described the character she created for the shoot as a force rather than a figure. She said the woman represents wild femininity — bold, fearless, and masculine in her own way. According to her, this character lives in leather, exists without apology, and embraces a personal era of saying yes without hesitation.
She also reflected on how her approach to creativity has changed. For Shayk, labels no longer matter. Model, muse, icon — those boxes feel irrelevant. What matters is connection. If a project brings joy, sparks love, and involves a creative partner who inspires her, she’s willing to go anywhere visually.
Working with Klein, she said, opened entirely new perspectives. The collaboration wasn’t about shock for shock’s sake, but about exploring strength, dominance, and femininity without boundaries.
The result is a shoot that doesn’t ask for approval. It dares the viewer to sit with discomfort, confidence, and power — and Irina Shayk stands at the center of it, completely exposed and completely in control.
