Victoria’s Secret model Shanina Shaik moves to London

Victoria’s Secret model Shanina Shaik has moved to London after a problem with her US visa.

Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik has moved to London after more than a decade in the US due to visa issues.

The Melbourne-born model, who is of Saudi-Pakistani-Lithuanian ancestry, relocated to the UK after her US visa expired following changes to American immigration policies brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shanina Shaik has moved to London amid US visa issue.

“Due to COVID and unfortunately my USA visa expiring … I’m here in London,” she recently announced on Instagram.

“I love it here … lucky to have an amazing group of friends here with me.”

Shaik also said she hopes to return to Australia once COVID-19 restrictions on international travel are eased.

It’s unclear which visa Shaik was on and whether she plans to return to the US on a permanent basis.

Confidential has contacted Shaik for comment.

The newly-single star first moved to the US in 2008 at age 17 following her stint on the reality TV show Make Me A Supermodel.

Model Shanina Shaik.

Shanina Shaik has had visa issues in the US.

As she adjusts to her new life in England, she recently described it as being similar to Australia.

“I love London, it reminds me of Australia. It reminds me of home. Not too impressed with the weather, I prefer Los Angeles weather,” she said during a podcast interview with The Moments That Made Me.

Shaik said she first moved to the US because it was difficult to find modelling work in Australia due to her exotic looks.

“It was really hard for me to book bigger jobs in Australia because I don’t look like the typical … the idea and stereotype of what people think Australians look like (Caucasian, blonde hair etc) … It was very upsetting for me.

“From the day I stepped foot in New York, I was very lucky and grateful as jobs started flowing in for me and I just knew I was in the right place and it was meant to be for me.”

In August, Shaik is said to have quietly split up with London-based businessman Seyed Payam Mirtorabi after several months of dating.