Kanye West & Irina Shayk In The 'Honeymoon' Phase As They 'Date Long Distance': Sources
Love is in the air for Kanye West and Irina Shayk. The new flames may have only romantically linked a few months ago, but they appear to already be smitten with one another.
“Kanye and Irina are in a honeymoon, lovey-dovey phase right now,” an insider dished. “They’re getting to know each other and having a lot of fun."
However, despite hanging out in NYC and taking a romantic trip to France for West's 44th birthday, the pair is in no rush to make things official yet. "It’s not serious yet, but they like each other a lot," the source added.
OK! reported earlier this month that West and the Russian-born model have “been quietly seeing each other for a couple months." News of the surprise coupling comes after estranged wife Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from the "Stronger" rapper in February.
West and Shayk's alleged new romance then made headlines when they were spotted out and about together in France on the rapper's June 8 birthday. The duo reportedly enjoyed a three-night stay at a luxury 600-acre boutique hotel, Villa La Coste.
While the father-of-four and Bradley Cooper's ex-girlfriend only recently began their romance, the two have professionally known each other for years. Back in 2010, Shayk appeared in West's "Power" music video, and he dropped her name in the track "Christian Dior Denim Flow." Two years later, the 35-year-old walked in his 2012 Paris fashion show.
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“Kanye was the first one to reach out,” the source told Us Weekly of how West and Shayk first linked up. “The romance was similar to his [relationship] with Kim because he saw her on his video shoot in 2010 and thought she was gorgeous. He always thought she was special and she held a place in his mind." (West famously chased after Kardashian for years and featured her in his "Bound 2" music video.)
And despite OK! learning that West apparently has had a crush on Shayk since first meeting her over a decade ago — with a source dishing that he "kept track of where she was" through the years — the 21-time Grammy winner isn't ready to pick up his life and move to the Big Apple to be with her.
"They will date long distance," spilled an insider. "Kanye will continue to be L.A.-based. He has no plans to move to NYC."
"His kids live in L.A.," the source explained to PEOPLE, referring to his children with the KUWTK star — daughters North, 8, and Chicago, 3, and sons Saint, 5, and Psalm, 2. "He is very focused on business in L.A. too. He likes spending time with Irina though and plans to see her soon again."
It looks like the distance won't get in the way of West and Shayk's blossoming romance, as a source said the brunette beauty "seems smitten" with West following their France trip.
