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Dancing With the Stars' Karina & Maksim Engaged!

Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chermkovskiy betrothed just seven months after her split from Mario Lopez

By Marcus Errico Jan 04, 2009 6:09 AMTags
Karina SmirnoffJeff Frank/ZUMA Press

Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are looking to perfect their pas de deux.

The Dancing With the Stars pros took the whole ringing in the New Year literally, getting engaged just before the calendar flipped to Jan. 1, a source close to the couple confirms to E! News.

The betrothal came between DWTS tour dates in Salt Lake City and Tulsa, Okla.—and a little more than six months after Smirnoff, 30, announced she and former Dancing partner Mario Lopez had ended their two-year relationship.

She and fellow Ukraine native Chmerkovskiy, 28, hooked up shortly thereafter.

Chermkovskiy joined DWTS in season two and last season partnered with Misty May-Treanor. Smirnoff has been on since season three, most recently teaming with Rocco DiSpirito.

No word on a wedding date, but both are expected back when season eight kicks off March 9.

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