Strictly star Kristina Rihanoff looks dejected in first pictures since dramatic split

Kristina Rihanoff looked glum as she stepped out following her split from Ben Cohen (Picture: SplashNews)

Kristina Rihanoff appeared downcast as she stepped out for the first time since her split from Ben Cohen.

The Strictly Come Dancing stars were together for 12 years, having met when the ex-England rugby star took part in the BBC dance show in 2013.

Ben, 46, and Kristina, 47, have long been rumoured to have got caught up in the famous Strictly ‘curse’ as, following his stint on the programme, Ben left his wife of 11 years and started dating his pro partner.

However, he has maintained that Kristina wasn’t the cause of his marriage’s demise.

Alas, he and the Russian choreographer are now thought to have called it quits as well.

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Shortly after the news became public, Kristina was seen wearing a glum expression while leaving her yoga studio in Northamptonshire.

The dancer wore all black as she left her yoga studio (Picture: SplashNews) Kristina is newly single after parting ways with Ben, whom she dated for over a decade (Picture: SplashNews)

The blonde beauty dressed solemnly in an all-black outfit, keeping warm with a fur coat.

She had sunglasses perched on her head and was seen chatting on the phone while walking.

When her breakup from Ben was confirmed, a friend claimed: ‘Ben left his wife Abby for Kristina, only to now split with her.

‘It’s like the curse in reverse.

‘This will be like karma for Abby; she was so upset when Ben left her.

‘It’s like he has got his comeuppance.’

The Russian choreographer wore sunglasses on her head as she opted for a low-key look (Picture: SplashNews) The former Strictly pro met Ben while he competed on the BBC dance show (Picture: SplashNews)

However, a source previously told The Sun that it was ‘hard’ for Kristina to be ‘tarnished with the “other woman” brush’ as, despite growing close on Strictly, they did not make their relationship official until Ben and Abby separated.

Abby also took the new romance badly, claiming it destroyed her life. She also called Kristina out publicly before apologising.

Kristina and Ben’s split comes not long after they went into business together.

Named Soo Yoga, Kristina previously said they ‘invested everything [they’ve] ever had into their company, seeking profit from her passion for fitness.

But they fell on hard times in recent months, with The Sun claiming that they’ve endured ‘hell’ while trying to keep both their relationship and business afloat.

Consequently, after growing apart, they were forced to put their £1.75million Northampton house on the market.

Kristina and Ben are said to have parted ways after a ‘hellish’ period financially (Picture: Steve Thorne/Getty Images) The rugby player began dating Kristina after splitting from his wife Shutterstock)

Just last year, reports emerged that Kristina and Ben were facing ‘losing’ their mansion due to serious debt.

‘Those close to them who know them as a couple had hoped they would be able to work things out, but for now it’s over and it looks like there’s no going back,’ a pal has now claimed.

Ben is a dad to two daughters from his marriage to Abby. He and Kristina welcomed Milena Rihanoff-Cohen in 2016.

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