Ben Cohen has shown his ex-girlfriend, Kristina Rihanoff, just what she’s missing as he recently stripped down for a very X-rated photoshoot, all the meanwhile juggling the stress of serious financial woes. The former rugby player, now 46, and the 47-year-old ex-star of Strictly Come Dancing have become the latest victims of the infamous "Strictly curse," following their breakup after 12 years together.
Cohen shared the daring shoot on social media on March 17, 2025, which features him donning nothing but tiny white underwear and a soaked grey T-shirt. The images, originally taken last year, serve as both eye-catching and provocative, especially as they come amid reports of Cohen and Rihanoff's deepening financial problems, which have led to substantial disagreements with creditors.
According to sources, the couple faces crippling debts estimated at around £1 million. With such financial distress looming, Cohen has previously resorted to selling topless photos of himself to raise quick cash, having created and sold 1,000 signed calendars at £32.95 each with hopes of earning back around £33,000.
MailOnline reported on the couple's dire fiscal situation, indicating their company, Soo Yoga Group, has been deeply affected, with its last submitted accounts for the year ending July 31, 2022, showing debts of £488,470. This figure includes £450,000 owed to various creditors and £190,000 to Rihanoff's other enterprise, Bespoke Ballroom Ltd.
A friend closely involved with the couple shared with MailOnline, "The past six months have been hell for them, and it has torn the love they had apart. For the sake of their family, they have chosen to go forward as separate individuals. Those close to them who know them as a couple had hoped they would be able to work things out, but for now it’s over, and it looks like there’s no going back." The weight of financial hardship is believed to be the primary reason for the end of their long-standing relationship.
Challenges surrounding their yoga business have been intense, especially after they invested every cent they had. Cohen and Rihanoff established Soo Yoga Group together in June 2017, but launched their venture just before the pandemic struck, leaving them vulnerable. The crippling impact of COVID-19 forced them to close their facility shortly after opening, and they were later reported to be struggling immensely as evidenced by Cohen's stark words during his court testimony.
"I get up every day and I fight not to lose everything - to lose my cars and my house and my relationship. I'm so overdrawn," he admitted during court proceedings concerning Kristina's unlicensed driving case last September. The toll of their financial issues has perpetually loomed over their personal lives, casting shadows on their dreams.
Kristina Rihanoff received her own spotlight within the gravity of this situation having appeared at Northampton Crown Court, where she tearfully appealed after being sentenced to penalties for driving without insurance. Sobbing throughout the session, she conveyed to the court how devastating it would be if she were disqualified, emphasizing her need to drive for work-related purposes, particularly for judging ballroom competitions, for which she earns around £2,000 monthly.
The couple initially found joy when they partnered on Strictly back in 2013 and, later, became parents to their daughter Mila. Their aspirations had led them to envision their yoga studio as more than just a local endeavor, with ambitions to expand and flourish like established gyms. Reflecting on their circumstances, Kristina said, "The company is new... I invested everything we've ever had... it was awful." These words illuminate their struggle — to support each other through what they thought would be the ultimate venture.
Reports suggest their engagement, which had appeared promising after romantic moments shared during their vacation in the Maldives, eventually succumbed to the pressure of financial trouble. A common goal to create hope and health service had transformed dramatically, reflecting the fragility of success and stability. "Over the last nine years, we've been through the wringer. To support each other through difficult times is the ultimate test of any relationship," Cohen expressed optimism during times past, even as the pressure mounted.
With their five-bedroom home now up for sale, valued at £1.75 million, the reality of their situation is stark. The tragic intertwining of their business struggles and the glue of their grasp on love has revealed itself to be fragile under the strain of mounting debt and mounting expectations. While they hoped to trace their pathways back to stability, the road to recovery remains uncertain for both Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff.
