Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff Are Truely In Love

Getting engaged on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas was a perfect way to end 2008, Dancing with the Stars pros Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff tell PEOPLE in its new issue."I'm in love and so is she," Chmerkovskiy gushes in PEOPLE's exclusive interview. "Everything is beautiful."Equally praising of her husband-to-be, Smirnoff says, "He is such a softie. The way he proposed was so romantic."As they rang in 2009, Chmerkovskiy presented Smirnoff with a three-karat Harry Winston platinum and diamond engagement ring tucked inside of a Louis Vuitton bag.

The pros confess that while they've known each other for years as competitive ballroom dancers, it was only four months ago that they decided to explore a romantic relationship. They chose not to acknowledge their relationship to the press until their engagement.

But still, their love was clear to Staples Center audience members at the Dec. 27 Dancing tour show in Los Angeles."You could see it, the way he caressed her cheek and whispered in her ear and kissed her on the forehead in between dances," says fan Heather O'Connell. "There was such a tender connection between the two of them, the way they looked at each other and smiled all night. It was lovely. That they have that passion on and off the dance floor is awesome."

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Mario Lopez Cheated On Karina Smirnoff

Apparently, the juicy break-up chisme is true! Karina Smirnoff , properly known as ‘Chuleta Lips,’ has openly revealed that ex-novio, Mario Lopez did in fact cheat on her with a barely legal Hooters calendar model.

The Dancing With The Stars estrella aired out all of her dirty laundry on E!’s The Chelsea Lately Show, and even got teared-up while talking about Mario’s descarado ways.It seems like this heart-breaker has been blown-up!

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Karina Smirnoff Made It FHM’s Sexy 100 List

Karina Smirnoff, paired this season with R&B artist Mario, was placed at number 78, and Cheryl Burke, two-time Dancing with the Stars champ, was ranked the 40th sexiest woman. Burke won seasons 2 and 3 of the show with Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith, respectively, and this year, she is paired with telenovela star Cristian de la Fuente.Karina Smirnoff, was placed at number 78, and Cheryl Burke, two-time Dancing with the Stars champ, was ranked the 40th Sexiest Woman.

Actress Shannon Elizabeth came in several places behind Burke, at number 46. Elizabeth is making waves in this season of Dancing with the Stars with her partner Derek Hough, as the two were caught canoodling and kissing on a Malibu beach recently.Actress and former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler clocked in at number 64 on the list, one spot ahead of Katie Holmes. Keibler appeared on season 2 of Dancing with the Stars, in which she and her partner Tony Dovolani made it all the way to third place.

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