Kristina Rihanoff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kristina Rihanoff
Кристина Риханофф
Rihanoff in 2013
Born	Kristina Pshenichnykh (1977-09-22) 22 September 1977 (age 47) Vladivostok, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Occupation	Dancer
Television	Strictly Come Dancing (2008–15) Celebrity Big Brother 17 (2016)
Partner(s)	Ben Cohen
Children	1
Parent(s)	Igor Pshenichnykh

Kristina Rihanoff, born Kristina Pshenichnykh on September 22, 1977, is a famous professional ballroom dancer from Russia. She is well-known for her amazing dance skills and for being a professional dancer on the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing for many years.

Kristina Rihanoff's Early Life

Kristina Rihanoff grew up in Vladivostok, Russia. Her parents were both engineers. She started taking dance lessons when she was just five years old. When she was 12, her parents divorced, which was around the time the breakup of the Soviet Union happened.

Living with her mother, Kristina began teaching dance part-time at age 15. This helped her family with money, as she could earn in a day what her mother earned in a month. Later, she earned a degree in Tourism and Hospitality from the St Petersburg Branch of Modern Humanitarian Academy.

Kristina Rihanoff's Dance Career

When Kristina was 21, she was asked to become a dance instructor for Russian dancers in the United States. She also performed in shows and taught dance classes in the evenings. Over the next few years, she grew her career by teaching and performing in the United States. She also created dance routines for shows in China, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Kristina has achieved many awards in her professional dance career:

• She won 1st place in the South African International Latin Championship (2005–2006).
• She placed 2nd in the US National American Rhythm Finals (2003–2005).
• She was 2nd in the Open to the World, Mambo Championship (2003–2004).
• She was a semi-finalist at the Open to the World, Blackpool Dance Festival in 2007.

After dancing with American professional Brian Fortuna, she has performed in the UK with Robin Windsor since 2011.

Kristina Rihanoff on Strictly Come Dancing

Kristina Rihanoff became a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008, starting with the sixth series. She was a professional dancer on the show for many years, partnering with different celebrities.

In 2008, she danced with political broadcaster John Sergeant. They finished in seventh place after John decided to leave the show.

In 2009, Kristina partnered with professional boxer Joe Calzaghe. They were eliminated in week five, finishing in eleventh place. Kristina and Joe were in a relationship after the show.

In 2010, she danced with musician and DJ Goldie. They were eliminated in week two. Later that year, Kristina won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special with actor John Barrowman.

In 2011, Kristina partnered with Australian actor and singer Jason Donovan. They did very well, reaching the final and finishing in third place.

In 2012, she danced with actor Colin Salmon. They were eliminated in the fifth week. In 2013, Kristina partnered with former England rugby player Ben Cohen. They finished in eighth place.

In 2014, Kristina returned to the show with Blue singer Simon Webbe. They were very successful, reaching the final and finishing as one of the runners-up. In 2015, her last series, she danced with Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell. They were the third couple to be eliminated.

Kristina Rihanoff's Strictly Results

Live Dance Tours and Stage Shows

Kristina has been part of the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour many times, from 2009 to 2015. She danced with different partners from the show, including Matthew Cutler, Mark Ramprakash, Jimi Mistry, Jason Donovan, Ben Cohen, and Simon Webbe. In 2015, Kristina and Simon Webbe won the overall tour!

In 2012, Kristina and Robin Windsor joined other professional dancers for the 'Dance to the Music Tour'.

Other Projects and Appearances

Kristina has been involved in many other projects. In Summer 2015, she and Robin Windsor performed in a theatre show called Puttin' On The Ritz.

She also creates dance routines for professional shows and commercials. She choreographed for shows like Burn the Floor and Dancing on Wheels. Kristina has also choreographed dance routines for TV commercials, including those for St Tropez suntan lotion and Panache bras.

Kristina wrote a book called The Art of Dancesport Makeup. It's for people new to Ballroom dance competitions and shares her knowledge about dance makeup.

Kristina has appeared on TV shows like Weakest Link (a Strictly Come Dancing special) and the celebrity version of Mastermind, where her special subject was Patrick Swayze. She even appeared on The Hairy Bikers Programme, where she cooked a traditional Russian dish called Borscht.

In 2017, Kristina directed and choreographed a 39-day tour called Dance To The Music. She also launched her own fashion line in collaboration with Pia Michi. Kristina has also appeared as a guest on Netflix's Baby Ballroom.

Kristina Rihanoff on Celebrity Big Brother

In January 2016, Kristina Rihanoff became a housemate on the 17th series of Celebrity Big Brother. While in the house, she announced that she and her partner, Ben Cohen, were expecting a child. Kristina and Ben were dance partners on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013. Kristina was the third person to be evicted from the house after spending fifteen days there.

Kristina Rihanoff's Personal Life

Kristina Rihanoff supports a children's charity called The Dot Com Foundation. This charity helps children learn how to deal with difficult situations and build their confidence.

Kristina and Ben Cohen, her dance partner from 2013, became a couple and later had a daughter named Milena in 2016. In November 2022, Kristina and Ben got engaged while in the Maldives.

See also

In Spanish: Kristina Rihanoff para niños