Kanye West and Irina Shayk have confirmed heated rumors of a new romance amid his divorce from wife of six years Kim Kardashian.
In exclusive images obtained by DailyMail.com, Kanye, 44, can be seen taking a romantic stroll with Irina, 35, in Provence, France, where they are staying at the luxury Villa La Coste boutique hotel together.
Rumors of the pair’s romance began late last month, with claims that Kanye was secretly dating the model, who shares a child with actor Bradley Cooper.
In the pictures, the pair can be seen enjoying their getaway surrounded by the beautiful idyllic countryside while the rapper even stopped to take a few pictures of the Russian supermodel, as they appeared to be very comfortable around one another.
EXCLUSIVE: Kanye West rebounds with Irina Shayk as the pair are spotted on a romantic stroll in France on his 44th birthday
Can’t hide that smile! The billionaire rapper was beaming with happiness as he walked behind the Russian supermodel
The couple could also be seen taking pictures of the Giant Crouching Spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois at the Château La Coste Art Centre.
France has always been a favored destination for the Yeezy star, who has spent extensive time there with his estranged wife Kim, having taken her there when they first dated in 2012.
Kim sat front row at Kanye’s runaway show during Paris Fashion Week in March 2012. In 2014, Kim and Kanye would have an extravagant pre-wedding party at the Palace of Versailles in Paris.
Meanwhile, Irina and Kanye are certainly no strangers to one another, having been connected for more than a decade.
Back in 2010, the runway maven was a featured player in West’s Heaven-inspired Power music video, where she portrayed an angel.
Romantic stroll: The pair were seen standing close together as they took in the idyllic countryside
Specifically, Shayk sported a revealing gold getup and a pair of CGI angel wings.
Just two years later, the Russian-born beauty put her modeling skills to the test as she graced the runway for West’s Fall/Winter fashion collection at Paris Fashion Week.
Rumors began to swirl last month when an anonymous tipster wrote in to DeuxMoi, claiming: ‘Kanye West is now secretly dating Irina Shayk aka Bradley Cooper’s baby mama,’ a tipster wrote in.
‘After further looking into this, I don’t know if “dating” is the right word, but there is perhaps some interest there.’
Casual couple: Irina looked stunning a white crop top while Kanye went low-key in a black T-shirt as the pair looked every inch of the happy new couple
Seeming to double down on earlier ‘dating claims,’ another tipster insisted to DeuxMoi that Irina and Kanye ”Def dating.’
Another link between the pair occurred as recent as last month, with Irina having sported a DMX shirt designed by West in collaboration with Balenciaga.
Famously, Irina was romantically involved with actor Bradley Cooper, whom she shares four-year-old daughter Lea De Seine with.
Kanye and his crew: The rapper was also accompanied by a group of team members who kept a careful watch over the pair
No strangers: Irina and Kanye are certainly no strangers to one another, having been connected for more than a decade
Happy sighting: Both Irina and Kanye appeared to be in a joyous mood as they were seen on a romantic stroll in France
Taking in the sights: The rapper and the Russian supermodel stopped to look at art installations while out on their walk
Enjoying the view: Kanye was seen walking behind Irina as he was also joined by members of his team
Romantic: At one point, it looked as though Kanye and Irina were walking off together for some quiet time
Irina and Bradley began seeing each other in 2015 and moved quickly with their relationship, as they welcomed Lea two years after they initially met.
Although the two were often spotted together in public over the next few years, their partnership came to an end in 2019.
Cooper and Shayk have remained on good terms, and the actor moved to New York City in order to be closer to his daughter and former girlfriend.
Keeping close: The pair, who have known each other for years, appeared to be comfortable around one another
Romantic getaway: Kanye is staying at the luxury Villa La Coste boutique hotel with Irina
Prior to beginning a relationship with the A Star Is Born director, she was in a high-profile relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo for several years.
Kanye’s nearly seven year marriage to Kim Kardashian came to an end in February, with the reality TV sensation filing for divorce.
According to People, the Stronger rapper filed his response for divorce in early April, where he asked for joint legal and physical custody of their children.
Superstar couples: The new romance comes after Kanye’s split with wife Kim (pictured; 2020), meanwhile Irina split with Bradley Cooper back in 2019
The estranged pair share daughters North, Chicago, and sons Saint, five, and Psalm, two.
The source also stated that, despite any rumored tension between Kim and Kanye, their divorce proceedings are going ‘smoothly.’
They continued: ‘Kim and Kanye are getting along. They have both stayed true to their commitment to make the best situation for the kids.
‘Kim is very happy that they have managed to keep things calm,’ the source claimed, adding that Kardashian thinks West is ‘a good dad’ and that she wants him ‘to be able to spend as much time with the kids as he wants.’
Part of the family: Irina can be seen smiling as she takes a stroll with Kanye and his team while on a romantic trip to France
Sights: The couple stopped to look at the Giant Crouching Spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois at Château La Coste Art Centre by Tadao Ando Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade Provence
The insider added that Kim ‘seems happier’ ‘for every week that goes by since she filed for divorce.’
She ‘known that filing for divorce was the right decision. The kids are doing as she could hope.’
After her February filing, Kim and the children have continued to stay at their $60 million Hidden Hills mansion she previously shared with Kanye.
Although the source added that Kim is ‘not looking for anyone right now’, they continued: ‘She’s not looking to jump into anything but is keeping an open mind.’
It comes after it was recently reported that Kanye is looking to date an ‘artist and creative person’ once their divorce is made final.
Kim and Kanye were friends for years, with Kim even marrying Kris Humphries in 2011 and divorcing him 72 days later during their friendship.
Kim and Kanye became romantic in spring 2012 and got married on May 24, 2014 in Florence, Italy after enjoying celebrations in Paris, France.
Just this past weekend, Kardashian sparked romance rumors of her own as she was spotted arriving to ‘mysterious’ London billionaire Jamie Reuben’s star studded birthday bash in Beverly Hills.
The swanky bash took place one day before her seventh wedding anniversary to Kanye.
Kanye West’s relationship history
ALEXIS PHIFER: 2002-2008
First fiancée: A then unknown Kanye started dating model and designer Alexis in 2002
A then unknown Kanye started dating model and designer Alexis in 2002 – around the same time he met future wife Kim for the first time.
They had an on-off romance for a few years before getting engaged in 2006. However, 18 months later they called off the wedding.
Alexis told People in 2008: ‘It’s always sad when things like this end, and we remain friends
‘I wish him the best in his future and all of his endeavors. He’s one of the most talented people I’ve ever met.’
Kanye processed the break-up by working on 808s and Heartbreak – an album which would top the charts and propel him to rap superstardom.
BROOKE CRITTENDON: 2004-2006
Romance: Brooke dated Kanye for two-and-a-half years after meeting backstage at a gig in 2004 (pictured 2006)
Brooke dated Kanye for two-and-a-half years after meeting backstage at a gig in 2004 when she was working as a production assistant for MTV.
But the couple eventually called time on their long-term romance because Brooke wasn’t comfortable with ‘sharing’ her man with other women.
She added in an interview with The Sun newspaper in 2013: ‘I was never OK being one of many — or even one of a few.
‘Kanye was very open and honest but it ended up with me knowing too much.
‘I don’t want to be silly and say it wasn’t cheating because I knew about it.
‘He definitely had an appreciation for the feminine form and a curiosity.
‘As a celebrity, sex becomes cheap but his obsession with sex was more sophisticated.’
AMBER ROSE: 2008-2010
Kanye’s most high-profile romance pre-Kimye was with model and social media star Amber Rose. Kanye is said to have spotted Amber on a video shoot for Ludacris’ 2008 single What Them Girls Like and they struck up a bond.
The beauty was by his side when he stole the mic from Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech at the MTV VMAs and the pair stayed together for two years.
Kanye was bold about slamming his former girlfriend in 2015 when he said in an interview that he had to take ’30 showers’ after dating Amber.
Acrimonious split: Kanye’s most high-profile romance pre-Kimye was with model and social media star Amber Rose (pictured 2010)
He candidly confessed: ‘If Kim had dated me when I wanted, there would be no Amber Rose.’
The rapper is said to have had his eye on Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Kim as early as 2008, naming her his ‘girl of the week’ in early blog posts which resurfaced in October 2014.
He added in the one-to-one: ‘It’s very hard for a woman to want to be with someone that’s with Amber Rose. I had to take 30 showers before I got with Kim.’
Amber later branded Kim a ‘homewrecker’.
In January 2012, Amber accused Kanye of cheating on her with Kim, who was then dating American footballer player Reggie Bush.
She told America’s Star magazine: ‘They were both cheating. They were both cheating on me and Reggie with each other.
‘She was sending pictures, and I was like, “Kim, just stop. Don’t be that person.”‘
In January 2016 West reignited his long war with ex-girlfriend Amber after dragging her name into a 30 tweet tirade against her then partner Wiz Khalifa.
But her revenge was rather more concise – a short, shocking and sexually explicit response that caused a collective gasp across the Internet.
In 2020 he was also said to have called her a ‘prostitute’ at a presidential rally.
2010 – 2011 SELITA EBANKS/MELODY THORNTON/CHANEL IMAN/VIRGINIE MAURY
Relationship? The star was linked to Victoria’s Secret beauty Selita Ebanks in 2010 and Chanel Iman in 2011 (right)
The star was linked to Victoria’s Secret beauty Selita Ebanks and did little to quell the rumours after casting her as the lead in his 2010 short fashion film, Runaway.
He is then said to have moved on with Pussycat Dolls star Melody Thornton but the romance fizzled out.
Kanye continued his model dating as he was linked to fellow VS star Chanel Iman, although she denied they were ever in a relationship.
He was then seen packing on the PDA with French model Virginie Maury in France although this soon came to an end.
KIM KARDASHIAN: 2012 – 2021
Early snap: Kim confirmed her romance with Kanye in June 2012
They finally got together eight years after meeting.
In March, The rumored couple let it be known they were spending time with each other when Kim sat front row at Kanye’s runway show during Paris Fashion Week.
The following month, after months of rumors and rumblings, Kim and Kanye made their relationship official as they held hands in New York City.
In May they took things a step further and make their red carpet debut at the Cannes Film Festival during the premiere for the film Cruel Summer.
In December, the Stronger rapper joyously reveals that his is expecting his first child with Kim during a New Year’s Eve concert in Atlantic City.
IRINA SHAYK: 2021
New flame: Rumors Kanye was romancing the Russian model emerged in May 2021. She’s seen in 2019 above
Rumors Kanye was romancing the Russian model emerged in May 2021.
Their connection wasn’t confirmed until photos of the pair taking a romantic stroll around Provence, France emerged June 9th 2021.
The pair were reportedly seen smiling and strolling around on the grounds of a luxury boutique hotel with some friends and later as a pair, with TMZ reporting they are ‘100% romantically together.’
Shayk previously dated Bradley Cooper, who she shares daughter Lea de Seine with.