Former "Strictly Come Dancing" professional Kristina Rihanoff recently shared images from a family trip to Florida, showcasing her time on the beach with her 10-year-old daughter, Mila.
Rihanoff, 48, was pictured in a black bikini on a beach in Florida, with one image showing her with Mila, who was wearing a royal blue swimsuit. Rihanoff, who has a daughter with rugby player Ben Cohen, 47, posted a caption that read, "Life is a beach."
Mila is Rihanoff's daughter from her relationship with Ben Cohen. The former dancer is not pictured with Cohen in the recent beach photos, though the couple reunited in late September after a previous six-month separation.
This family getaway comes after Rihanoff commented on recent changes to the "Strictly Come Dancing" lineup. Earlier this year, she stated that the popular BBC show should be "rested" following the departure of five professional dancers. Rihanoff, who was a professional on the show from 2008 to 2015, suggested that the series could benefit from a return to its roots, focusing on ballroom and Latin dancing without excessive props or projections.
"If I were a producer, I would give it a rest for a year, regroup and think about what we can do differently," Rihanoff told The Independent. "There's something to say about going back to basics and back to its roots – the roots of the show were pure ballroom and Latin dancing without the razzmatazz of 101 props and 3D projections."
She explained that when she first joined the show, the focus was on the dancing itself, with minimal props and live music for group dances. Rihanoff added that she left "Strictly" in 2015 because she "didn't want to be there anymore," citing the mental toll of year-long contracts and the uncertainty of professional dancers' futures on the show.
The departures Rihanoff referred to include professional dancers Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, and Gorka Márquez. Reports indicated that Hauer, one of the longest-serving female dancers, was informed that her contract would not be renewed. Katya Jones, however, was reported to be staying with the show and had received a new contract.
Rihanoff believes that a break could allow for a re-evaluation of the show's direction, emphasizing a return to the fundamentals of ballroom and Latin dance. She shared that the show's initial format, which prioritized the dancing and learning process for celebrities, was a key part of its original appeal.