The professional dancer appeared on the BBC dancing competition between 2008 and 2016

Former Strictly Come Dancing pro dancer Kristina Rihanoff(Image: instagram/krihanoff)

A former Strictly Come Dancing star has admitted they ‘felt insecure’ at the height of their fame on the BBC dancing competition.

Russian professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff, 48, was a fan favourite during her time on the programme between 2008 and 2016. First appearing in the show’s sixth series, Kristina was famously paired with political broadcaster John Sergeant.

The following years saw her dancing with the likes of professional boxer Joe Calzaghe, who she dated for several years after the show, musician DJ Goldie and Doctor Who star John Barrowman, who she won the programme’s 2010 Christmas special with.

Kristina’s most successful year on Strictly was when she taught Blue singer Simon Webbe the art of dance. The pair made it to the final which was won by the late Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev.

After dancing with Irish country singer Daniel O’Donnell in 2015, Kristina announced that she was leaving the programme.

Speaking in the new issue of Closer Magazine, Kristina revealed that she once struggled to look back at her time on Strictly due to missing the body she had.

Kristina Rihanoff with her partner Ben Cohen(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

“There was a time a while ago where my phone kept popping up with memories from my Strictly days, and I thought I’d rather not look because I wish I could have that body, and I miss it.

“Then I had to give myself a talking to because, looking back, I literally spent my entire 20s being so self-conscious about my body,” she said.

Kristina continued: “During Strictly, social media was just starting to blossom, and there were kind comments, but also negative ones about how I looked and my weight.

“I remember being so insecure – it was a sad waste of energy constantly comparing myself to others. Now I think, ‘Why did I let that affect me?’ The advice I’d give to my younger self is to appreciate yourself way more because, looking back, wow, they were my prime days!”

Now a yoga instructor and choreographer Kristina, who shares a 10-year-old daughter called Milena with her 47-year-old partner, former rugby player Ben Cohen, appreciates her body and health now ‘more than anything’.

“I’ve always been very level-headed about getting older, you can’t reverse your age, and you can only try to be as healthy as you can. My body has changed, things are a bit wobblier, believe me, but on the whole, I feel great,” she noted.

She added: “Last year, I went to Thailand to see my mum, and I thought I needed to order a load of new bikinis. But then I tried on some I had from 10 years ago – they were a size 8-10 – and they still fit!

“I thought, ‘Actually, I’m not doing too badly at all’. I appreciate my body so much more now and value my health more than anything.”