Strictly's Karen Hauer hints at fourth marriage amidst reflections on past challenges

Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Hauer hints at a possible fourth walk down the aisle despite her trio of failed marriages, as she opens up about her new romance.

The 42-year-old Venezuelan-American dance sensation, who parted ways with fitness guru Jordan Wyn-Jones last year just 16 months post-nuptials, has found love anew with Simon Davidson. Previously, Karen was hitched to fellow Strictly professional Kevin Clifton, now a father with Stacey Dooley, and her first husband was dancer Matthew Hauer, with whom she split in 2009 after nine years together.

Yet, the World Mambo Champion is not closing the door on matrimony, candidly sharing that she's taking time to deeply understand Simon before contemplating "taking the next step".

In what seems like a subtle jab at her former partners, Karen told the Mirror that when it comes to marriage, it's the 'person that's the problem, not the marriage', elaborating: "The marriage doesn't go wrong, it is the person. You think you know someone and then you don't. But that's why I am taking it slow and really getting to know [new boyfriend] Simon before taking the next step."

Asserting she's done with past conflicts, she added: "As you get older you've been through so many marriages and divorces I've nothing left to fight about as I've fought about it already", reports the Mirror.

Karen and her beau Simon, 34, made their relationship Instagram official this January, as she posted an endearing snap of the pair enjoying a countryside hike.

Simon, who also posted the photo, wrote alongside it: "Things can change in an instant. Try to live in the moment you never know what may happen."

Discussing their relationship, Karen revealed she now 'understands what she needs from a partner', stating: "He lives in Manchester, the time we do spend together we don't want to waste arguing about things that don't matter. I now understand what I really need from a partner support and understanding but from both ways."

The couple made their relationship public on January 19, when Simon joined the dancer in Birmingham for Strictly's first live tour show of the year.

Simon - a senior sports marketing manager for Adidas - was spotted arriving at the hotel where all the Strictly stars were staying. Karen appeared overjoyed as she introduced her new beau to one of her closest friends on the show, Gina Mancini, one of the Strictly team's massage therapists.

Karen and her ex-husband Jordan tied the knot in 2022 with a 'fairytale' wedding, but parted ways last year after a "tough time". Speaking about their separation, an insider previously told the Mirror: "Karen and Jordan have had a tough time in the past few months and decided to split. It's obviously very sad for both of them. But there's no ill-will whatsoever. The split is amicable, and they wish each other the best."

However, last year Jordan expressed his feelings about how Strictly Come Dancing had negatively impacted his relationship with the dancer. Speaking to the Daily Mail, the personal trainer confessed he was "incredibly sad not to be in Karen's life", but acknowledged they "were not right for each other in terms of her career".

He revealed that the longest-serving dancer on the BBC series was too engrossed in her career to consider starting a family with him.

Although he would always "admire her for her career", he lamented it "took her away from me a lot". He elaborated: "She's amazing and I admire her for it. That's one of the reasons I wanted to marry her because of how powerful she is. But we wanted different things. There was a plan about having children but then there wasn't a plan."