Kristina Rihanoff nailed retro chic as she left her engagement party with her fiancé Ben Cohen on Saturday night in London.
The former Strictly pro, 45, turned heads in a dazzling gold midi dress with a white fur trim as she held a bag of gifts.
She added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of gold heels and accessorized her look with dazzling earrings.
The blonde locks of the Russian dancer were swept behind her shoulders by the wind and she had flawlessly put on full make-up.
Held at the five-star Andaz Hotel on Liverpool Street, it featured celebrities such as Sinitta, Gillian McKeith and Lizzie Cundy.
Rising: Kristina Rihanoff nailed retro chic as she left her engagement party with fiancé Ben Cohen in London on Saturday night
Ben recently said his relationship with Kristina has been “strengthened” by “hard times in business” leading up to their marriage.
Former rugby star Ben, 44, fell in love with the ballroom pro after they collaborated on the 2013 series of Strictly, despite Ben being married at the time.
The couple, who share six-year-old daughter Mila, are now looking forward to a lavish wedding in Tuscany or Oxfordshire after years of working non-stop.
He told Hello! magazine: ‘We’ve been through the wringer for the past nine years’.
“Supporting each other through tough times in business is the ultimate test in a relationship. I’ve watched her blossom, from becoming a mother to becoming a businesswoman, and that has strengthened our bond.”
They told the magazine they plan to make the big day a family affair with Mila and Ben’s twin daughter from a previous relationship, Harriette and Isabelle, 15, will be bridesmaids.
Christina said: ‘Mila can’t wait, she’s already told me what she’s going to wear. “I want a dress like that, Mama, with a long train like you’re going to have,” she tells me. She certainly knows her own mind.’
It comes after the pair revealed they got engaged last year during a sun-soaked getaway in the Maldives.
Looking good: The former Strictly pro, 45, turned heads in a dazzling gold midi dress with a white fur trim as she held a bag of gifts
Out of this world: She added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of gold heels and accessorized her look with dazzling earrings
Star-studded: Held at the five-star Andaz on Liverpool Street, starring the likes of Sinitta, Gillian McKeith and Lizzie Cundy
Wow! The blonde locks of the Russian dancer were swept behind her shoulders by the wind and she had flawlessly put on full make-up
In releasing a photo of the big moment, Kristina said Ben getting down on one knee was “the biggest surprise of my life.”
They had been on a boat trip to a neighboring island when Kristina saw a heart made of burning lanterns and the words “Will you marry me?” written in the sand.
Ben and Kristina struggled during the pandemic, while their holistic wellness company SooYoga suffered from the lockdown.
Earlier, they revealed that they had not received any financial support from the government at the time, which also put a dent in their mental health.
Referring to the problems they encountered, Kristina said, “It’s easy to love someone when everything is rosy, but it’s a different story when life gets challenging.”
Ben added: “Every love story has its honeymoon, but that will eventually pass.
“Love has different meanings and for me that is being in a relationship with a partner who has gone through some hard times with me and together we will move forward.
“She’s the person I want in my life forever.”
Gang: Kristina and Ben were chatting with a friend, who looked dapper in a burgundy suit
Chatting: The trio seemed to be in deep conversation
Trio: They all seemed to be in good spirits
Wow! Kristina caused onlookers to look and point as she left the posh establishment
Last year, Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman was forced to issue a fawning apology to the couple after she falsely claimed their relationship started while they were on the show.
It was revealed in Richard Eden’s Eden Confidential column that Claudia had apologized after saying, “The couple I knew got together was Ben and Kristina,” while filming The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan on Channel 4 at Television Centre.
Born in Vladivostok, Russia, Kristina and Cohen have always maintained that their affair only started the year after he took part in Strictly.
After learning of what she described as Claudia’s ‘lies’ on the Channel 4 show, she threatened legal action and contacted the 50-year-old presenter.
As a result, the host offered her and Ben a rambling apology, telling them, “I’m so, so sorry.” In a post seen by the column, she explained, “I thought the question was about who found long-lasting love (via Strictly).
“I excitedly said, ‘Ben and Kristina,’ and then I said Stacey and Kevin (referring to TV host Stacey Dooley and former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton, who have been dating since 2019, after being linked in 2018 during the show) .’
Departure: Sinitta looked chic in a black dress as she also left the venue
Brilliant: The singer put on a breathtaking show as she took to the streets of London
Star: Gillian wrapped in a black coat amid the wintry weather
Cold? The former I’m A Celebrity camp mate looked great after a night of partying
Unbelievable: Lizzie Cundy looked sensational in a form-fitting neon green dress
She continued, “I’m sorry, I’m an idiot. It was a two-second moment.’
Ben’s ex-wife Abby has spoken out about the betrayal she went through with Ben.
After she divorced him in 2014, she shared The sun on Sunday a year after their breakup: ‘My husband, who I was with for 23 years, loved unconditionally and who was utterly loyal in every way, left me for a fucking Russian dancer.
“The past two years have been the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to me. He did the dirty to me. I want people to know.
I don’t want to cause stress or further damage by stirring things up. But I’m just trying to recover from what has been the most horrific time of my life.”
When Ben split from Abby, he and Kristina denied having an affair, despite being pictured with their arms around each other on the London Underground.
In the summer of 2015, they went to Turkey together, but tried to hide it – even with separate flights to the Turkish resort of Antalya.
What’s in the bag? Kristina will certainly be surprised when she opens her presents
Buddies: She had an exchange with a decent friend before they went their separate ways
Farewell: Ben hugged a friend goodbye after the glitzy bash