What do you say when you finally come face-to-face with the woman who took your husband? For Abby Cohen, that moment never came.
Despite the past 12 years and the fact that Kristina Rihanoff—the so-called Siberian sexbomb—became stepmother to her daughters, Abby reveals something shocking:
“I haven’t seen her since Strictly,” she says. “Not once.”
Considering they live in the same town and share family ties, it seems almost impossible. No awkward school events, no strained small talk at kids’ parties—nothing. “It’s as if the universe has kept us apart, probably to protect my emotions,” Abby adds.
The Fallout of the Strictly Curse
Abby’s marriage to former rugby star Ben Cohen famously imploded after his time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013. The media frenzy that followed left her shattered.
“I have PTSD from it,” she admits. “I was broken. I didn’t want to be here anymore.” Even hearing the Strictly theme song today brings back painful memories.
Yet now, in a dramatic twist, the love affair that destroyed her marriage has ended. Ben and Kristina have split—amid financial struggles and legal troubles—and Abby is, once again, dragged back into the headlines.
“Was It Worth It?”
With Ben now facing his own heartbreak, Abby’s feelings are complicated.
“I’m sad for him,” she says. “Our marriage broke down, and it’s happening all over again to him. He’s got to start over from nothing.”
But she can’t ignore the irony. “It’s come full circle. Was it really worth it? I don’t know.”
Her main concern is their 17-year-old twin daughters, Harriette and Isabelle, who are watching their father’s life unravel for a second time.
“They’ve already gone through this once. Now, they have to go through more change.”
Life After Ben
Despite everything, Abby isn’t bitter. In fact, she has quietly built a new life. She beat colon cancer, found love with a new partner, David, and started a career in photography.
“Ben wouldn’t recognize me now,” she says. “I’m a completely different person.”
As for Strictly, she still can’t stand it. “It’s not about dancing anymore—it’s about who’s going to run off with who this year.”
She won’t comment on Kristina’s heartbreak, but when asked if she’s surprised by the breakup, she simply shrugs.
“To last, a relationship needs strong foundations. Theirs was built on lust.”
Now, as the dust settles, Abby has just one wish: “I just want this to be closure.”
