After months of relentless rehearsals, emotional performances, and a historic victory, Karen Carney has finally pressed pause — and fans couldn’t be happier for her.
The former England football star, 38, made history in December by winning Strictly Come Dancing 2025, becoming the first footballer to lift the Glitterball Trophy. Paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, Karen triumphed in a thrilling final against George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and Amber Davies with Nikita Kuzmin.
Overcome with emotion as her name was announced, Karen told viewers:
“I can’t believe it. Thank you to everyone who supported our journey. And thank you to this wonderful gentleman — we are a team, and I couldn’t have done it without you. It’s been the biggest privilege and honour. I’m lost for words.”
Carlos was just as emotional, praising Karen for changing his life and urging viewers at home to dream big and never give up.
Life After the Glitterball
Once the confetti settled and the final interviews were done, Karen and Carlos went their separate ways for the first time in months. Carlos headed off on festive travels — first to snowy New York, then to sunnier destinations — while Karen quietly stepped away from the spotlight.
Now, she’s shared a glimpse of how she’s spending life after Strictly, posting relaxed snapshots from what appears to be a break in Italy, including a visit to Rome’s iconic Colosseum. Simply captioned “Life lately”, the post instantly struck a chord with fans.
Friends and fellow Strictly stars were quick to comment. Vicky Pattison gushed, “Why are you so cute?!” while Carlos added, “Cutest!!!!!!” Dancer Jake Leigh wrote, “Look at youuu!” and former Lioness Jill Scott summed it up perfectly: “You deserve the break.”
Fans echoed the sentiment, praising Karen for taking time to rest after such an intense year. “Saturday nights aren’t the same without watching you dance,” one wrote, while another added, “Hope 2026 is kind to you — you deserve it.”
A Year She’ll Never Forget
Karen’s quiet getaway comes after she marked New Year’s Eve with a heartfelt Instagram post reflecting on the year that changed her life. Leading the photo carousel was a touching image of Carlos holding her after their Glitterball win, alongside moments with friends including Vicky Pattison, Balvinder Sopal, and Chris McCausland, last year’s Strictly champion.
“A year I’ll never forget for the rest of my life,” Karen wrote. “Thank you to everyone who made it so special. Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year — see you in 2026.”
After conquering the dancefloor and rewriting Strictly history, Karen Carney’s next chapter is refreshingly simple: rest, reflection, and well-earned peace.
And if her fans have anything to say about it — she’s earned every moment. 💫
