Former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ professional Kristina Rihanoff and her boyfriend Ben Cohen have welcomed their first child together.

Kristina, 38, and former England rugby international Ben Cohen, 37, are the parents of a baby girl after she gave birth earlier this week.

A statement from the couple’s representatives to Hello! magazine on Wednesday (July 13th) read: “Ben and Kristina are delighted to confirm they are the parents of a beautiful baby girl. They would like to thank friends and family for all their kind wishes at this happy time.”

Ben Cohen Kristina RihanoffBen Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff welcomed their first baby together this week

Russian professional dancer Kristina met Cohen in 2013 when they were partnered together on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Despite rumours at the time that they were secretly dating, they have both always been adamant that they only started their relationship after he had split from his wife, Abby Blayney, the following year.

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Their relationship then became public in 2015, with Kristina announcing that they were expecting a baby together while she was on ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ in January this year.

While this is the first child for Kristina, Ben has eight year old twin daughters, Harriette and Isabelle, from his marriage to Abby.

She admitted that her pregnancy wasn’t planned, but that she and Ben were immensely looking forward to becoming parents. In an interview soon after she emerged from the ‘CBB’ house, she said that they had known since Christmas.

“It was a surprise but I am obviously delighted. My mother was with me over Christmas and when we found out she put her arms around me and she cried with joy. It is her lifelong dream for me to have a child and it was lovely to see her so happy.”

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