Dancing With the Stars professional Pasha Pashkov says his three-year-old daughter Nikita has nicknamed his celebrity partner Amber Glenn "Elsa" after seeing her in a blue costume.
Glenn, a 26-year-old Olympic figure skater, performed a rumba to Mariah Carey's song "Hero" on the October 6 episode of the ABC dance competition. She wore a sparkling blue chiffon outfit that drew comparisons to the character from the animated film Frozen.
Glenn said that if the toddler saw her in the outfit, she would call her Elsa. Pashkov agreed completely, noting that the Disney character is his daughter's favourite princess and that she had recently dressed as Elsa for a Disney event. Pashkov joked that the only thing missing from Glenn's look was a braid.
Pashkov is married to fellow professional dancer Daniella Karagach. Karagach previously revealed that Nikita refers to her own celebrity partner, Olympian Ezra Frech, as "Superman". Karagach said the toddler is obsessed with Frech and that the pair sit together on the sofa like best friends.
Glenn has previously taken Pashkov onto an ice rink during their time working together this season. Glenn said her partner committed to the skating, which terrified her as she feared injuring him before they had the chance to dance together on the live shows.
Recent ballroom couples
The ABC series has a long history of professional dancers forming romantic relationships with their celebrity partners or colleagues. Gleb Savchenko and Brooks Nader dated for around seven months between 2024 and the spring of 2025 after partnering on season 33.
Fellow professionals Emma Slater and Alan Bersten confirmed their relationship in April 2025. The pair kissed on stage during a duet on the final night of the show's live tour. Their colleague Ezra Sosa responded to fan footage of the moment by saying it was finally happening.
Britt Stewart and actor Daniel Durant confirmed their romance on Valentine's Day in 2023, months after finishing fifth on the 31st season of the show. The couple announced their engagement in December 2023 and married in August 2025 in front of other dancers from the cast.
Former Bachelorette Gabby Windey and television personality Vinny Guadagnino sparked dating rumours while competing against each other in 2022. Windey said they formed a friendship and shared a similar sense of humour but that she was focused on winning the competition. The pair did not date. Windey later married comedian Robby Hoffman in January 2025.
Professional dancer marriages
Emma Slater previously married fellow professional Sasha Farber in March 2018, having dated on and off since 2011. Farber proposed during a live broadcast of the show in October 2016. The couple separated in August 2022. Slater said they remain close friends who truly support one another, adding that working together is not a nightmare.
Farber was later linked to Bachelorette star Jenn Tran while competing on season 33 in 2024. The relationship reportedly ended by June 2025 after Tran returned to Miami to complete her master's degree.
Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson dated in 2015 before Johnson was promoted to a professional dancer on the show. They became engaged in June 2018 and married the following April. They welcomed a son, Rome Valentin, in January 2023. Chmerkovskiy said becoming a father elevated his joy for life.
Pashkov and Karagach have been married since 2014. They announced the birth of their daughter Nikita in May 2023, with Karagach sharing pictures on social media calling the baby a daddy's girl.
Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy began dating in 2012 and became engaged in December 2015 when Chmerkovskiy proposed at a dance event in Miami. They married in July 2017 after the birth of their first son, Shai. They later welcomed sons Rio in June 2023 and Milan in July 2024.
Celebrity romances and divorces
Reality television star Nikki Bella and professional Artem Chigvintsev reconnected in 2018 following her split from wrestler John Cena. They had previously been partnered on the show in 2017. They became engaged in 2019 and welcomed a son, Matteo, in 2020.
Bella filed for divorce in September 2024, two weeks after Chigvintsev was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. Prosecutors in Napa County evaluated the evidence and decided not to file criminal charges. The couple settled their divorce in November 2024 and dropped domestic violence restraining orders against each other to co-parent their child.
Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec married his season 20 partner Kym Johnson in June 2016, following a four-month engagement. They had begun dating after Herjavec separated from his wife of 14 years, Diane Plese. Herjavec and Johnson welcomed twins in April 2018.
Selling Sunset estate agent Chrishell Stause dated professional Keo Motsepe for two months in 2020 after competing on the same season. Representatives said the split was friendly and a result of bad timing. Stause is now in a relationship with musician G Flip.
Past showmances and flings
Actor Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff dated for two years after pairing up on the third season of the show. They split in 2008 following rumours that Lopez had been unfaithful. Smirnoff later became engaged to Maksim Chmerkovskiy in 2009 after six months of dating, but they split later that year.
Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough dated for nearly a year following the sixth season. They announced their split in matching social media posts in August 2009, stating they would remain friends. Hough is now married to dancer Hayley Erbert.
Model Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten flirted on camera during season 27, but split in December 2018 due to long distance and their schedules. Sabrina Bryan and Mark Ballas dated during season five but broke up months later, remaining friendly.
Other couples played up their chemistry for the audience without entering formal relationships. Chad Ochocinco bought Cheryl Burke a diamond ring and necklace during season 10, which she returned. Burke later told television host Wendy Williams that they had a flirty fling.
Sports broadcaster Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy staged an almost-kiss on a bed during a finale performance on season 10. Andrews later returned to co-host the show. She is now married to former hockey player Jarret Stoll and they welcomed a son in July 2023.
Alek Skarlatos called Emma Slater hot during a season 21 switch week, but they never dated. James Maslow went on several dates with Peta Murgatroyd before joining the cast for season 18, but they denied any romance during the competition. Brant Daugherty denied dating Murgatroyd during season 17, while Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Meryl Davis were confirmed to be just friends when they won season 18.
