Strictly’s Ben Cohen proposes to emotional Kristina Rihanoff 9 years after meeting on show | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

Kristina Rihanoff, 45, and her partner, former rugby player Ben Cohen, 44, are now engaged, nine years on from when they met on Strictly Come Dancing. The sports star gave the dancer the “biggest surprise of her life” when he got down on one knee.

The pair first met when they were partnered up on the 11th series of BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2013.

Since then, they have gone on to welcome a daughter named Mila together, back in 2016. 

The couple were enjoying a break in the Maldives when Ben decided to pop the question.

Kristina and Ben took a boat to a nearby island, where a lantern-lit heart had been created with the question “Will you marry me?” written in the sand.

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The Russian dancer competed as a Strictly professional for the first time in 2008 and remained there for seven years.

During her first stint, she was memorably paired with political broadcaster and author John Sergeant, finishing in seventh place.

Since leaving Strictly in 2015, Kristina has gone on to star in Celebrity Big Brother.

Ben was a member of the England team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup and retired from professional rugby in 2011.