Supermodel-turned-actress Kate Upton has fuelled reports she's dating professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy after the couple was photographed holding hands in New York City.

The Sports Illustrated beauty and Chmerkovskiy have been denying reports suggesting they are in a relationship since they were first linked in June (13), when they were spotted enjoying a meal together in the Big Apple.

The former Dancing With the Stars hunk, 33, recently insisted the dinner celebrating her 21st birthday was not a romantic date, adding that they were simply "very, very good friends".

However, it appears they have since decided to go public with their love - a photo obtained by the New York Post shows the stars smiling and walking hand in hand in Manhattan's West Village on Thursday (26Sep13).

Upton has previously been linked to baseball star Justin Verlander and Sean 'Diddy' Combs, while Chmerkovskiy was previously engaged to fellow Dancing With the Stars pro Karina Smirnoff.