Kanye West and Irina Shayk emerged as one of summer 2021’s surprise couples just last week—and now Page Six and Us Weekly have more details about how their relationship started. It was West who made the first move, both outlets report. He first became interested in Shayk a decade ago, actually, pre-his big romance and marriage to Kim Kardashian. (Kardashian filed for divorce from West in February 2021. They first started dating in 2012.)
“Kanye was the first one to reach out,” a source told Us in a report published today. “The romance was similar to his [relationship] with Kim [Kardashian] because he saw her on his [‘Power’] video shoot in 2010 and thought she was gorgeous. He always thought she was special and she held a place in his mind.”
Page Six wrote that West “actively pursued” Shayk “not long after” his winter 2021 split from Kardashian in its own report today. “Kanye always had a thing for Irina, so she came to mind early on in his divorce from Kim,” a source told the outlet. “He decided to shoot his shot, and it worked.”
West and Shayk are currently in a casual but blissful relationship, the two outlets’ sources explained.
Us‘ source said, “Kanye and Irina are in a honeymoon, lovey-dovey phase right now. They’re getting to know each other and having a lot of fun. It’s not serious yet, but they like each other a lot.”
Page Six‘s source emphasized that Shayk’s biggest focus is her four-year-old daughter with ex Bradley Cooper, Lea de Seine. But her burgeoning relationship with West is a happy addition to her life: “Irina is a very hands-on mother and won’t let a new romance distract her from her daughter, so it’s perfect that things with Kanye are very casual and laid-back at the moment,” the source said. “They’re still getting acquainted, but the spark is definitely there, and Kanye likes where things are headed.”
Alyssa Bailey
News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton).
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