Karina Smirnoff bid farewell to Dancing With the Stars after her 22nd season, venturing into fresh professional avenues—and it appears she’s thriving in her pursuits.
Debuting as a professional dancer in the show’s third season in 2006, Smirnoff was paired with none other than Saved by the Bell heartthrob Mario Lopez. Their impressive performance earned them a second-place finish, subsequently solidifying Smirnoff’s annual inclusion in the show’s roster of dancers.
In a monumental moment, she clinched her singular mirrorball trophy in 2011 during season 13 alongside J.R. Martinez. It was a triumphant peak, but Smirnoff officially stepped away five seasons later.
In February 2015, she took to Instagram to reveal, “Many of you have been asking if I will be back for season 20 of DWTS and I wanted all of my incredible family to hear it directly from me,” indicating her decision to channel her energies towards exciting new projects, including her aspirations to become an author.
She elaborated, saying, “I have absolutely loved dancing for all of you for all these years and feel blessed to have been given a platform to showcase my passion for dance, choreography, and creativity. DWTS has been a significant part of my life for the last decade, and it will always have a special place in my heart.”
In tandem with her exit, Smirnoff authored her first book, We’re Just Not That Into You: Dating Disasters From the Trenches, right around the same time. However, she soon returned to the ballroom, competing again in seasons 21 and 22 alongside jockey Victor Espinoza and NFL star Doug Flutie, respectively. Ultimately, she retired from the competition after finishing ninth with Flutie. A brief cameo, shared with several original pros, saw her return during a special tribute to the late head judge Len Goodman in season 32 of 2023.
Smirnoff may have taken a step back from the DWTS stage, but she remains connected to the dance scene, frequently leading masterclasses and dance workshops around the globe.
Karina Smirnoff alongside Antonio Brown during ‘DWTS’ season 22’s ‘Switch-Up Week.’ Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
In a rare interview with San Francisco’s KRON 4 in June 2025, she shared, “I’ve been judging quite a lot, and I have couples that I lead. It’s a very competitive world. Everyone wants to enjoy themselves while dancing, of course, but they also want to win. However, once the music starts, the competition melts away, and everyone truly enjoys dancing.”
Besides her artistic endeavors, Smirnoff is also adjusting to motherhood, doting on her son, Theo. Since welcoming her only child in 2020, she has chosen not to disclose the identity of his father.
In a candid admission, Smirnoff revealed that becoming a mother brought its fair share of challenges. “I love babies, but when friends would hand me their newborns, I panicked, thinking, ‘How do I hold this tiny person without breaking them?’” she confessed to Us Weekly in May 2020. “I was nervous about changing diapers, just hoping it would come to me instinctively.”
Faced with the anxieties of first-time parenthood, Smirnoff temporarily relocated to live with her parents for added support. “Sharing living space with my parents again was an adjustment,” she noted. “It requires an entirely different skill set as an adult. They’re fantastic, truly, but having them around constantly presented a new dynamic.”
