Irina Shayk desires for her daughter to find the silver lining within the glare of fame. The Sports Illustrated swimsuit model elaborated on how she and ex-partner Bradley Cooper ensure their eight-year-old daughter, Lea, "feels comfortable" amid their celebrity status, noting that the youngster "clearly understands" the public-facing nature of their jobs. "She has very, very little digital access, almost none," Irina shared with People in an interview published on November 17th. Instead, the 39-year-old emphasized that she and Bradley focus on "building community, friends, and giving love." She added, "This is the best thing you could give to your kid: raising them in a loving family."
Moreover, Irina is cognizant of her job's unique perspective, which can help moderate some of Lea's worldviews. "There are so many beauty standards out there," she continued, "that of course I try to protect my daughter from."
Part of Irina and Bradley's approach to acclimating their daughter to Hollywood is by involving her in their work. In fact, when it comes to the process of making a movie, the Maestro actor-director shared that Lea is "part of it." "There's nothing weird about it," Bradley told E! News last month. "It's just a part of what we do, and it's kind of a nice thing. She cares so much about it."
Indeed, Lea is not afraid to share her thoughts with her dad. "Kids say exactly what they think, and she has a big opinion about everything," Bradley—who began dating Gigi Hadid in 2023—continued. "I love it and I care what she thinks. Even with casting, we'll look at auditions together."
For her part, Irina mirrors her ex's mindset on taking Lea "everywhere" and having her be a part of both their personal and professional lives, even when their schedules are packed. "We always find a way," she told Elle in 2023. She also noted of Bradley, "He's the best father Lea and I could dream of. It always works, but it always works because we make it work."
