Sophie Hauer: “Splitting from Kevin hasn’t put me off marriage”
The Strictly professional dancer opens up about how her divorce breakdown helped transform her life and find love
After her marriage broke down, Karen Hauer admits her self-esteem plummeted. She barely ate or slept and struggled “to see a way ahead”. But two years on from her shock split from Strictly co-star Kevin Clifton, dancer Karen insists she’s emerged stronger and happier than ever, with a fresh outlook on life and a new man. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy and content in my own skin,” says the 37 year old. “I’m in such a good place. Before, I was always worrying about what people might think of me. Now I feel so good on the inside and, for the first time, free to be myself.”
HEARTACHE
Pro dancer Karen, met Kevin, 37, in stage show Burn The Floor, where he proposed in front of an audience on her 31st birthday. The couple joined Strictly in 2010 and quickly became the show’s golden couple. They married in a lavish ceremony in 2015 – but within three years the dancing duo grew apart and called time on their relationship in 2018. Karen, whose first marriage to pro dancer Matthew Hauer ended in 2009, candidly reveals the heartache behind her split with Kevin. “The year we broke up was traumatic and heartbreaking,” she says. “A marriage ending is never something you expect to happen, or want. It was a shock for us both, but I think it was something that was a long time coming and we ignored the signs. We both had different schedules, long working days, and just didn’t see each other very much. Also, when I look back, I don’t think we were ready for marriage. We were still growing as performers, as people, as lovers, and sometimes you just can’t find the right way to fix things.”
Karen, 37, reveals she hit rock bottom in the aftermath of the split and turned to former Strictly pro Camilla Dallerup for some life coaching. She says, “For a long while, I was hurt and not in a great place. I felt like I was in so much turmoil and I couldn’t see the way ahead. I wasn’t sleeping, eating or taking care of myself properly for a while.”
But despite the pain, Karen credits the split for helping her change her perspective on life. “My separation from Kevin led me to a path of prioritising myself and sorting myself out and making changes,” she admits. “I used to think I had to act a certain way, to be the perfect girl with the perfect hair and always smile. Now I feel grounded and comfortable with who I am – I don’t want to fit the mould and beauty isn’t about being perfect.”
As well as a new outlook on life, Karen found love again with opera singer David Webb, who she met in 2018. The couple now live together with their three rescue dogs, and Karen admits she finally feels she has met her soulmate.
NEW MAN
She beams, “There was an instant connection when we met. He always makes me laugh, which is so sexy, and he’s good looking, creative and into self-care, like me. We know how to communicate, which is really big for me. He understands me on a different level. He sees me for who I am and doesn’t judge me. I can be wild, but at the same time I’m also calm, collected, driven, and quite shy at times. There are so many different levels to me, but he doesn’t get afraid of them. He embraces them, and me – which is a lovely new experience for me.”
Karen, who continued to work alongside Kevin on Strictly after the split, insists the pair are hugely “supportive” of each other, and is a fan of his girlfriend and former dance partner, TV presenter Stacey Dooley. She says, “I admire and respect Kevin and I know he feels the same about me. He will always be my friend. The fact I’m in a new place now and he’s in a new place has really helped me
to go to a different level and be happy. I’ve just toured with Stacey [Dooley] and I love her to bits – we get on very well! It won’t be weird to see us all hanging out together as couples.”
Having launched an online fitness programme and set to embark on a dance tour in 2020, the star is excited about the future – which may include settling down with David. “I wouldn’t say no to marriage again – I’ve definitely not been put off,” says Karen. “We’ve talked about marriage and children, but we talk even more about having more dogs. We may end up in a farm in Cornwall with 27 dogs, 15 horses, three cows and four llamas! I’d love to have a family but, for now, I’m happy with the way things are going.”
● Karen presents Hauer Power – an 8-week fitness plan that be done from the comfort of your home. The plan costs £50 – join at Karenhauer.fit
‘I feel free to be myself for the first time’