Karen Hardy
Born: Bournemouth, England
Status:
Married 2003 to Conrad Murry
Children: Son Callum
Turned professional: August 1994
Retired: 1999

UK Open Championships -2nd - 1999
UK Open Championships -1st- 1998
UK Open Professional Latin Champion 1997/8
International Open Professional Latin Champion 1998

Karen Hardy was born and raised in Bournemouth and turned professional after being asked by Bryan Watson an already well known and highly respected South African dancer, a partnership that lasted five years. During that time Karen ranked number one in the World as a Professional Latin American dancer from 1995-1999

Karen retired from the competitive world of dance in March 1999 and at that time she and Bryan Watson were undefeated United Kingdom, International, British National, World Masters, Open Italian, Yankie Classic, London Open and Osaka World Trophy Champions of Latin American dance.

Series 3 of Strictly Come Dancing saw Karen first take part, where she partnered News Presenter Bill Turnbull. Karen and Bill did well in Strictly Come Dancing but they were eventually voted out in the seventh week of the series.

In the 2005 Christmas showdown Karen Partnered former World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield

In 2006 she was paired with Mark Ramprakash in Strictly Come Dancing making the final where they defeated Lilia Kopylova and World cup rugby star Matt dawson