Karen Hardy was born in Weymouth, 30 miles west of Bournemouth in 1970.
She began dancing at 5 years old after her parents moved to Bournemouth, and is now a professional ballroom dancing coach, having retired from dancing in 1999.
During her career Karen and her dancing partner Bryan Watson were named the Most Outstanding Latin American Couple in 1995, and she won the International Latin American Dance Championship in 1998,
Karen is best known to the public for her appearance in the 3rd season of the BBC television show Strictly Come Dancing.
