Karen Hauer Age, Husbands, Strictly Career and Life After the Show
Who Is Karen Hauer?
If you’ve watched Strictly Come Dancing at any point over the last decade and a half, chances are you already know the name Karen Hauer. Where is Karen Hauer from? She was born in Valencia, Venezuela, in 1982, before her family relocated to New York, where she grew up. That mix of Venezuelan roots and a New York upbringing gave her a dance style that blends fiery Latin flair with rigorous technical training.
So how old is Karen Hauer? She turned 44 in April 2026, and in that time she’s built one of the most enduring careers in British light entertainment. Karen Hauer’s age hasn’t slowed her down one bit — she’s remained one of the fittest, busiest performers on television for the better part of two decades.
Quick Bio Facts
- Full name: Karen Vanessa Hauer (née Girez Kardenez Andreas)
- Born: 20 April 1982, Valencia, Venezuela
- Age: 44 years old (as of 2026)
- Nationality: Venezuelan-American
- Occupation: Professional Latin dancer, choreographer, TV personality
- Known for: Longest-serving female professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing (2012–2025/26)
- Marriages: Three (Matthew Hauer, Kevin Clifton, Jordan Wyn-Jones)
Karen Hauer’s Journey to Strictly Come Dancing
Long before she became a household name in the UK, Karen trained on a full scholarship at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and later studied at New York’s High School of Performing Arts, where she specialised in ballet and contemporary dance. Her talent was recognised early — she won the Helen Tamaris Award for Excellence in Dance during her training years.
Her competitive dance career took off when she was crowned World Mambo Champion in 2008. The following year, she auditioned for the US version of So You Think You Can Dance and made it to the top 20. Around this time, she was also a principal dancer in the original Broadway cast of Burn the Floor, a role that took her touring across the US, Europe, Asia, Australasia and South Africa, and even saw her share a stage with Jennifer Lopez.
Karen Hauer’s Time on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Karen Hauer: How It All Began
Karen Hauer joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2012, and from that point on she became one of the show’s most recognisable professionals. Strictly Karen Hauer fans watched her dance her way through more than a decade of series, earning a reputation for technical precision, theatrical routines, and an infectious love of performing.
Karen Hauer’s Strictly Partners
Over the years, Karen Hauer’s Strictly partners have included a wide range of celebrities, among them Nicky Byrne, the late Dave Myers (“The Hairy Biker”), broadcaster Jeremy Vine, singer Will Young, comedian Jayde Adams, former footballer Paul Merson, and — in her final series — Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known to Gladiators fans as Nitro.
Has Karen Hauer Ever Won Strictly?
This is one of the most-asked questions about her Strictly career, and the honest answer is no — despite reaching the final on more than one occasion (including in 2014 and 2020) and a semi-final finish in 2019, Karen Hauer has never lifted the Glitterball Trophy. In past interviews, she’s been candid that winning was never her main motivation; she’s said she loves the show for the connections she built with her celebrity partners and the joy of introducing new audiences to dance, trophy or no trophy.
Strictly Karen Hauer Leaving Show
After 14 years, Karen Hauer’s exit from Strictly Come Dancing marked the end of an era. She holds the record as the longest-serving female professional in the show’s history, and her departure was widely covered as one of the biggest shake-ups to the professional line-up in years. While the show will continue without her, her run from 2012 through her final series cemented her as one of the most influential dancers to ever grace the Strictly ballroom.
Karen Hauer Husbands and Relationships
Karen Hauer’s personal life has attracted almost as much attention as her dancing, particularly her relationships and marriages.
How Many Times Has Karen Hauer Been Married?
Karen Hauer has been married three times. Each marriage played out, at least in part, under public scrutiny, given her profile on British television.
Karen Hauer’s First Husband: Matthew Hauer
Karen Hauer married Matthew Hauer in 2000. Both were dancers, and Karen originally auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance in the US with Matthew, though he was eliminated during Vegas week while she progressed. The marriage ended in divorce in 2009. This is who Karen Hauer was married to before her time on British television began — and interestingly, it’s this marriage that gave her the surname most fans now know her by.
Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer’s Wedding
Karen Hauer’s second husband was fellow Strictly professional Kevin Clifton. The Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer wedding took place in 2015, and the couple became one of the show’s most talked-about real-life pairings. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2018, with Karen later opening up in interviews about jealousy contributing to the breakdown of the relationship. Despite the split, the pair continued working together on Strictly for a couple more years before Kevin left the show in 2020.
Jordan Wyn-Jones: Karen Hauer’s Third Husband
Karen Hauer’s most recent husband was Jordan Wyn-Jones, whom she married in 2022. That marriage ended in divorce in 2024. Between her second and third marriages, Karen was also in a long-term relationship with opera singer David Webb, whom she dated for around two years before their amicable split in 2020.
Is Karen Hauer Married Now? Current Relationship Status
As of the most recent reporting, Karen Hauer is not married. After her divorce from Jordan Wyn-Jones in 2024, she hasn’t publicly confirmed a new partner, and no verified reporting suggests she’s currently in a relationship. Given how open she’s been in the past about her romantic life, any new relationship would likely become public knowledge fairly quickly — but until then, her status remains speculative rather than confirmed.
Karen Hauer Net Worth
Unlike her marriage history, Karen Hauer net worth isn’t something she—or a reliable financial source—has ever officially confirmed, so treat any specific figure circulating online as an estimate rather than fact. What is known is that her income has come from a wide range of sources over the years: her long-running Strictly Come Dancing salary, her Broadway and touring work with Burn the Floor, her own stage productions, and brand partnerships built up over more than a decade in the public eye. Given the length and breadth of her career, it’s fair to say she’s built a comfortable living from dance, even if an exact number isn’t publicly verifiable.
Life After Strictly: What’s Next for Karen Hauer
Leaving Strictly hasn’t meant leaving dance behind. In 2022, Karen created and starred in her own theatrical production, Firedance, which returned in expanded form in 2023 as Firedance Reignite. She’s also toured with fellow Strictly professional Gorka Marquez in the live show Speakeasy, which followed on from their earlier hit Firedance tour, taking audiences through eras of dance from 1920s speakeasies to 1970s discotheques. It’s clear that even without a weekly slot on Saturday-night television, Karen Hauer’s career in dance is far from over.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Karen Hauer?
Karen Hauer was born on 20 April 1982, making her 44 years old.
Where is Karen Hauer from?
She was born in Valencia, Venezuela, and was raised in New York.
Is Karen Hauer married?
No. Her most recent marriage, to Jordan Wyn-Jones, ended in divorce in 2024.
Who was Karen Hauer married to?
She has been married three times: to Matthew Hauer (2000–2009), Kevin Clifton (2015–2018), and Jordan Wyn-Jones (2022–2024).
Has Karen Hauer ever won Strictly?
No, despite reaching the final multiple times, she has never won the Glitterball Trophy.
Why is Karen Hauer leaving Strictly?
Her departure was announced after 14 years on the show, making her the longest-serving female professional in Strictly’s history.
