Kristina Rihanoff once struggled to look back on Strictly Come Dancing memories
Kristina Rihanoff struggled with looking back at her memories of Strictly Come Dancing because she missed her body.
Kristina Rihanoff felt insecure at the height of her Strictly Come Dancing fame.
The 48-year-old star once struggled to look back at her time as a professional dancer on the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance competition - which she joined in 2008 and left in 2016 - because she missed the body she had.
Kristina explained in the new issue of Closer magazine: "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."
The now yoga coach regrets comparing herself to others.
She admitted: "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 appreciate yourself way more because, looking back, wow, they were my prime days!"
As well as embracing ageing, Kristina - who has a 10-year-old daughter called Milena with her 47-year-old partner, former rugby player Ben Cohen - said she appreciates her body and health now "more than anything".
The choreographer - who credits hot yoga, a plant-based diet, and temporarily ditching alcohol for keeping her in shape - shared: "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."
Kristina - who was paired up with Ben on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, and finished in eighth place with him - 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."
