KAREN Hauer has revealed that she has ditched alcohol after “hiding behind” binge drinking and boozy nights out.
The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 43, marked a year without booze today in an emotional post.
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Strictly’s Karen Hauer reveals she’s quit booze after ‘gritting her teeth and hoping the pain would stop’ by drinking,Credit: Instagram
She thanked her boyfriend Simon and their “little family” of dogs while looking ahead to the new year and continuing her sobrietyCredit: Instagram
The Strictly cast are known for their boozy behind-the-scenes nights out
Sharing a monochrome picture of herself in a black shorts and top co-ord, Karen wrote: “One year alcohol free..
“I faced my raw self for the first time… scared, sad, angry. But also clearer. Pausing. Progressing.
“I hid behind “just having fun” but deep down I was closing my eyes tightly, gritting my teeth, hoping the pain would stop.”
Describing the lifestyle overhaul as the “bravest thing” she has ever done, Karen continued: Turns out the bravest thing I’ve done was stop running from myself.
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“Now I’m slowly better at reasoning with myself understanding why I feel the way I do and allowing myself to feel it all.
“Even when my heartbeat races and my mind overthinks. That’s my process of healing and I’m okay with that.”
She signed off the post by thanking her boyfriend and looking ahead to the new year.
Karen concluded: “Here’s to many more positive days ahead, with love, support and my little family – Simon and my four gorgeous dogs.
“Take care of yourselves in 2026”.
Jowita Przystal and Vicky Pattison were amongst the famous names in the comment section sending support and love to Karen.
With a lengthy TV show and a tour around the country shortly after, the cast of Strictly Come Dancing are known for letting their hair down on the road.
Often travelling by bus while on tour, empty bottles of wine and plastic champagne glasses were previously seen being hauled off the bus.
While the cast are often spotted partying into the early hours in each city.
In fact, the BBC even cracked down with more rules regarding the cast’s behaviour earlier this year, which was revealed by The Sun.
In a 16-page document entitled Pro Dancer Guidelines, seen by The Sun, the professional dancers are banned from swearing, drinking to excess or wearing inappropriate clothing.
“Separated into two categories — ‘Outside of Strictly period’ and ‘During the Strictly period’ — rules are far more robust for the latter.
In her post, Karen cited partner Simon Davidson as one of the positive forces in her life, after the pair recently marked two years together.
The relationship came after Karen split from her ex-husband Jordan Wyn-Jones after just 16 months of marriage.
Earlier this year, she opened up about the “toxic” marriage during an interview on Paul C Brunson’s We Need To Talk podcast Karen; describing how the relationship was filled with fear and control, saying she started losing her hair from stress.
The Strictly favourite had tears streaming down her face as she confessed to living a double life, lying to friends, family – and even to Jordan just to get through the day.
She said: “I was just in panic mode, panic mode, love should not be panic.
“It’s almost like he made up things to scare me so that I wouldn’t go anywhere.
“I was not only lying to my family and friends and they were seeing it, but I was lying to him as well, because that was the only way I could get through the day, that would keep the peace.”
Before Jordan, she was with fellow professional dancer Kevin Clifton, whom she was married to for three years.
Karen has been with her partner for over two years, celebrating their anniversary in NovemberCredit: sidavidson9/Instagram
Karen was previously married to Jordan Wyn-Jones, a relationship she described as “toxic” earlier this yearCredit: We Need To Talk/YouTube
Karen was partnered with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey during this year’s StrictlyCredit: BBC
