Nikita Kuzmin’s girlfriend, Lauren Jaine, has urged fans to “be respectful” of their relationship.
The 27-year-old Strictly professional is currently partnered with former Love Island star Amber Davies, 29, for this year’s series of the dance competition. While the dancing takes center stage, viewers have long been fascinated by the drama behind the scenes. Over 23 series, speculation has frequently surrounded potential romances between celebrity contestants and professional dancers a phenomenon often referred to as the “Strictly curse.”
On Friday, Lauren, 23, took to her TikTok page to remind fans to be mindful of those already in relationships on the show. In the video, she smiled at the camera while pretending to scroll through her phone, captioning it: “Me watching all the cute TikToks of all the Strictly couples.”
Lauren Jaine later pulled a confused face in a follow-up TikTok, with on-screen text reading: “‘comments saying ‘I hope they get the Strictly curse’.” Alongside the video, she urged fans: “Please be respectful to the real-life partners and let them have a good experience of the show too.”
Nikita Kuzmin and Lauren are believed to have started dating in early 2023, going public in October of that year. An insider told The Sun: “Nikita and Lauren have been dating for months and seem to have an amazing connection. They’ve tried to keep their romance under the radar, but they’ve been attending events together and really enjoying each other’s company. They’ve spent a lot of time together and even went on holiday in the summer. Things are progressing and Nikita is very happy with his new romance.”
Their relationship appears to be going from strength to strength, with the dancer recently opening up about future plans with the model. Speaking to OK! Magazine, Nikita said: “Yeah, we’ve definitely talked about the future. I hope one day she’ll say yes!”
“We just saw a video of a wedding in South Africa and got emotional watching it. So, why not?” Nikita Kuzmin said, reflecting on a special moment with Lauren Jaine.
He also offered a candid glimpse into their relationship, revealing that their ideal date night is far more low-key than the glamour of the Strictly dance floor. “Honestly, 99 percent of the time we’re at home watching Modern Family,” he admitted. “It’s not about what we do, it’s about just being together and respecting each other’s space.”
Lauren’s TikTok comes amid revelations that many celebrities on this year’s Strictly series already have prior dance experience. While the show is designed for stars to learn from their professional partners, several contestants may need less guidance than expected.
Amber Davies, for example, has a strong dance background. The former Love Island star holds a Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre and Dance, studied dance as a GCSE subject, and trained at Danceworld Stage School, giving her a solid foundation ahead of the competition.
Amber Davies attended Urdang Academy for the Performing Arts as a teenager, where she trained in musical theatre. Last year, she competed on ITV’s Dancing On Ice, finishing an impressive fifth place with professional skating partner Simon Proulx-Senecal.
Her extensive dance background has sparked debate among Strictly fans, with many questioning whether it’s fair for someone with prior experience to compete. On social media, viewers commented: “A trained dancer! This show has lost the plot… needs a total reset,” and “Wasn’t she on Dancing On Ice? Strictly is about learning to dance, this is skipping all that.” Others added, “She is a trained dancer and was on Dancing On Ice a few years ago. She is too trained for this show.”
Meanwhile, Emmerdale star Lewis Cope is also no stranger to dance, having honed his skills while performing in the West End production of Billy Elliott.
It has also emerged that Lewis Cope previously appeared on the Sky show Got To Dance as part of a troupe called Ruff Diamond. Hosted by Davina McCall, the show aimed to find the UK’s next dance superstar, with contestants performing weekly for a cash prize. Lewis and Ruff Diamond reached the final of the 2013 series, ultimately finishing in fourth place.
Other celebrities on this year’s Strictly lineup also bring dance experience. Team GB sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known as Nitro from Gladiators, may not have professional training, but he took part in the 2024 Strictly Christmas special with Nancy Xu, giving him a head start in rehearsals.
EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal revealed she has dabbled in Latin and ballroom dancing as a hobby. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said, “I dabbled a little bit, I did ballroom and Latin as a hobby and really loved it. When you’ve got a passion for something, you’re more inclined to enjoy it.”
Like Amber Davies, RuPaul’s Drag Race star La Voix is an alum of Urdang Academy, where she likely gained valuable dance training.