Britt Stewart & Daniel Durant
Months after placing fifth in the 31st season of the dance show, the couple confirmed their romance on Valentine's Day 2023. "My Valentine," the CODA actor captioned a selfie with the choreographer. "Happy Valentine's Day!"
Showmance or Real Deal: Real deal.
Alek Skarlatos & Emma Slater
While she was partnered with Hayes Grier, the two hit it off during season 21's Switch Up week, with Alek calling her "so hot." After her elimination, Emma spilled that she and Alek had yet to go on a date, saying, "We'll see."
Showmance or Real Deal: Given Alek's tendency to blush and avoid answering questions about his feelings for Emma, telling E! News "no comment!" we think this crush was very real. But Emma danced away off the market for good following Skarlatos' 2015 run, so if it was real, it wasn't that real.
Emma Slater & Sasha Farber
Which bring us to these two. After dating a little on and off since 2011, the pros got engaged live on the show in October 2016, and were married in March 2018. However, in Aug. 2022, E! News confirmed that after four years of marriage, Slater and Farber were going their separate ways.
Showmance or Real Deal? Despite the outcome, they were still the real deal.
Val Chmerkovskiy & Jenna Johnson
Val and Jenna were dating in 2015, before she was promoted to pro dancer. They got engaged in June of 2018 before making it official and walking down the aisle in April of 2019. In July 2022, they announced they were expecting their first baby together. The two welcomed son Rome Valentin in January 2023.
Showmance or Real Deal? Real deal, y'all!
Chrishell Stause & Keo Motsepe
In December 2020, E! News learned the Selling Sunset star was dating the Dancing With the Stars pro. They had recently competed separately on season 29.
However, after two months of dating, E! News exclusively confirmed they had called it quits. At the time, a source close to the realtor said, "They had a fun time together but in the end, decided it would be best if they part ways. They are still friendly and cordial. It wasn't a messy breakup, just wasn't the right fit or right timing."
Showmance or Real Deal: We're calling it the real deal.
Nikki Bella & Artem Chigvintsev
Platonic throughout their seventh-place-finishing 2017 run, the friends found their way back to each other after the WWE hall of famer's split from John Cena. Since their late 2018 coupling, their dance cards have been filled. And with the Total Bellas star learning she was expecting mere weeks after their Paris engagement, the series may have found its first cast member for season 68 in weeks-old Matteo Artemovich Chigvintsev!
Showmance or Real Deal? As real as a rack attack.
Alexis Ren & Alan Bersten
Model Alexis and relatively new pro Alan flirted up a storm throughout season 27, and Ren had admitted on the show that she had a crush on him. At the time, a source even told E! News that they "really enjoy each other's company" and were "seeing where things go."
Showmance or Real Deal? All for the cameras, unfortunately. Multiple outlets reported their split in December 2018, blaming it on long-distance and demanding schedules.
Peta Murgatroyd & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
The professional dancers got engaged on Dec. 5, 2015 after dating since 2012. Maks proposed onstage at the SWAY: A Dance Trilogy event in Miami. Six months after welcoming their son Shai, the lovebirds exchanged vows during a lavish ceremony in July 2017.
Showmance or Real Deal: A match made in DWTS heaven!
Robert Herjavec & Kym Johnson
Soon after the Shark Tank star announced he was separating from his wife of 14 years Diane Plese, sources confirmed to E! News that he and Kym Johnson, his pro partner from season 20, were dating and "really happy together."
While Robert and Kym at first played coy about the nature of their relationship, that quickly stopped. They were engaged in February 2016, married by June 2016, and welcomed twins in April 2018.
Showmance or Real Deal: Very very very real.
Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff
Partnered in season three, Karina and Mario quickly struck up a romance, which went on for two years, before they called it off for good in 2008. "The relationship wasn't heading in the right direction," Smirnoff's rep said in a statement, after rumors of infidelity on Lopez's part.
Showmance or Real Deal: Real deal.
Karina Smirnoff & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
The professional dancers got engaged in 2009 following just six months of dating, shortly after her split from Mario Lopez. Sadly, they called it off later that same year. But the duo remains friendly, even going on vacations together.
Showmance or Real Deal: Real deal.
Sabrina Bryan & Mark Ballas
The partners struck up a romance in season five, but broke up a few months after their shocking exit. Still, Sabrina and Mark remained friendly, with The Cheetah Girls star even returning to the ballroom to cheer for him the following season.
Showmance or Real Deal: Real deal.
Shannon Elizabeth & Derek Hough
After showing off their insane chemistry during the sixth season, the duo dated for nearly a year before announcing their 2009 breakup in the most cordial way ever: matching tweets! "Hi everyone, we wanted you all to know directly from us, that Shannon & I have decided to end our relationship as boyfriend & girlfriend...," Derek tweeted that August. Finished Shannon, "However, we love and care about each other very much and will remain friends and in each others lives."
Showmance or Real Deal: Real deal.
Meryl Davis & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Though they dodged questions about their reported romance during season 18, a source told E! News that the eventual champs were just friends.
Showmance or Real Deal: This time, 'twas a showmance.
Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke
While they never technically dated, it didn't stop him from trying to woo his professional partner during season 10, even buying her gifts like a diamond necklace and a diamond ring, which she eventually gave back. "We had a fling," Cheryl later told Wendy Williams. "A little flirty fling. Like, a little flirt, flirt. That's it."
Showmance or Real Deal: Showmance!
James Maslow & Peta Murgatroyd
Funnily enough, the duo had gone out on several dates before he even signed up for the show. And while they denied any romance rumors during season 18, that didn't stop them from playing up their chemistry during performances.
Showmance or Real Deal: Total showmance.
Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
One of DWTS' most playful pairings, rumors continued about their relationship for all of season 10, and they weren't doing anything to stop them! Seriously, they staged an almost-kiss on a bed for one of their finale performances. Their banter continued eight cycles later when Andrews signed on as the show's co-host.
Showmance or Real Deal: Showmance.
Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough
The only DWTS couple to enter the competition already dating, Julianne returned to the show in season eight to dance with her country music singer love. Sadly, they were eliminated eighth and broke up shortly after.
Showmance or Real Deal: Real deal.
Brant Daugherty & Peta Murgatroyd
While rumors ran rampant that the duo struck up a romance during season 17, the Pretty Little Liars star always denied that he was dating Peta.
Showmance or Real Deal: Showmance!