Karina Smirnoff
Karina Smirnoff (Ukrainian: Каріна Смірнова; born January 2, 1978) is a Soviet-born American professional ballroom dancer of Ukrainian origins. She is known as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, where she won the thirteenth season with army veteran and soap opera star J. R. Martinez. She has also won two runner-up titles, a semifinal title, and several quarterfinal titles.
Karina Smirnoff | |
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Smirnoff in 2008 | |
| Born | Karina Smirnova January 2, 1978 Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine) |
| Alma mater | Fordham University |
| Occupation | Dancer |
| Partner | Justinas Duknauskas |
| Children | 1 |
She is a five-time U.S. National Champion, World Trophy Champion, and Asian Open Champion. She has won the title at the UK Open, is a three-time champion at the US Open, two-time champion at the Asian Open, five-time champion at the Dutch Open, and five-time US National Professional Champion. She has taken second at the British Open Blackpool Dance Festival, and the first woman to reach the British Professional Final with three different partners, and surpassed her own distinction by being the only woman to have made the final with four different partners between 1999 - 2006.