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ALONG with millions of Strictly fans, Karen Hauer – the longest serving female professional dancer on the show – is eager to hear when the series will return in 2020.
It’s not in this determined woman’s character, though, to sit around waiting. Instead, she’s “staying busy, active and positive and taking it day by day”. This includes promoting her online Hauer Power fitness programme, sharing home workouts, and recently joining fellow Strictly star, Oti Mabuse, to set up the Home Festival online community.
Along with their partners – Karen is joined by boyfriend, David Webb – and a host of friends, from fellow Strictly dancers to tennis star Boris Becker and Olympic athlete Greg Rutherford, they’ve streamed classes covering everything from dancing and baking to sports coaching.
In truth, Karen, 38, is no stranger to overcoming challenges. Born in Venezuela, she moved to New York aged eight – then her dad left – and Karen has previously talked about the “hard” times growing up.
Two years ago, she dealt with the breakdown of her marriage with Strictly pro Kevin Clifton – but has emerged “transformed”, with a new look and approach to life.
“My separation from Kevin led me to a path of prioritising myself. I’ve made a lot of life changes. It’s been so worth it because I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy and content in my own skin,” reflects the dancer, whose long, dark hair has been replaced by a glamorous crop.
She’s talking from the home she shares with her partner David, 36 – an opera singer – and their three rescue dogs. Clearly blissfully happy, the pair delight in performing together online.
“I’m in such a good place. Before, I was always worrying about what people might think of me. Now I feel, for the first time, free to be myself,” says Karen, who joined Strictly in 2012.
She and Kevin quickly became one of the show’s golden couples. But the pressures of work and preserving a relationship proved tough and the pair, who married in 2015, eventually split.
“The year we broke up was traumatic and heartbreaking,” Karen says quietly. “A marriage ending is never something you expect or want. It was a shock for us both, but I think it was a long time coming and we ignored the signs.
“We got caught up in the whole work, work, work thing – we were living and breathing it 24 hours a day – and it kind of overwhelmed our relationship.”
Karen, who’s remained friends nds with her ex and gets on well with his new partner, Stacey Dooley, y, adds happily: “Kevin and I will ll always be friends, which is wonderful and I love Stacey to bits.
“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 a way to fix things.