Strictly forgotten pro dancer who's one of the most successful in BBC show's history

BBC's Strictly Come Dancing has been a launchpad for many celebrities, boosting their careers after they've strutted their stuff on the iconic dance floor.

But it's not just the celebs who have seen their stars rise - the professional dancers have also become household names thanks to the show.

From Anton du Beke, who's now gracing the panel as a judge, to current favourites like Amy Dowden and reigning champ Dianne Buswell, Strictly has done wonders for their public profiles.

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However, over the years, numerous pro dancers have come and gone, with many of them sadly fading from the limelight. Among those who have slipped from public view is Aliona Vilani, one of the most successful pro dancers in Strictly history with two wins to her name.

The only other pro dancer to match this feat is Oti Mabuse, reports Wales Online. So, who exactly is Aliona Vilani and what has she been up to since her departure from Strictly?

Aliona's Strictly success

Kazakh ballroom champion Aliona, now 41, joined the series in 2009 and bid farewell in 2015.

During her stint on Strictly, she clinched second place with presenter Matt Baker and emerged victorious with both McFly's Harry Judd and The Wanted's Jay McGuiness.

Her season 13 jive with Jay to a Pulp Fiction medley is often hailed as one of the best dances in Strictly history, having racked up over 5.2 million views on YouTube.

While she never scored a perfect 40 with Jay, she received top marks from the judges twice with Harry Judd, for their Argentine Tango and Quickstep.

Strictly controversy

Former children's TV presenter Johnny Ball took part in Strictly in 2012 and was initially partnered with Aliona and then Iveta Lukošiūtė but in 2017 Johnny launched an astonishing attack on his Strictly dance partners, accusing them of fixing it so he got booted off first.

He told The Sun on Sunday: "Aliona fell on a flat floor in flat shoes and said she had broken her leg.

"The next day she flew to the South of France for a pre-arranged weekend with her boyfriend."

The star was then paired with Iveta - and he claimed that she devised a routine that was too difficult for him.

He said: "When I was knocked out she said, 'That’s funny, my contract ends on Tuesday'."

Aliona strongly denied the claims.

Life after Strictly for Aliona

Strictly fans were taken aback when Aliona announced her departure from the show just days after winning her second glitterball trophy with Jay.

Rumours circulated at the time of her announcement that she was leaving to start a family with her husband, Vincent Kavanagh. In 2017, they welcomed their baby daughter Bella.

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer