[1][2] The daughter of two engineers, Rihanoff was born and grew up in Vladivostok, Russia, and started taking dance lessons from aged 5.

[3] She has a degree in Tourism and Hospitality; after finishing public school she studied with St Petersburg Branch of Modern Humanitarian Academy.

She developed her career over the next few years through a combination of teaching and performing, in the United States as well as choreographing shows in China, Hong Kong and Japan.

[6][7] Rihanoff returned in 2009 to compete for the show's seventh series, in which she was partnered with professional boxer Joe Calzaghe.

On the Strictly 2011 tour, Rihanoff was partnered with actor Jimi Mistry, they danced the Foxtrot and Paso Doble.

In 2012, 2014 and 2015 Rihanoff reunited with her dance partners from the television series, Jason Donovan, Ben Cohen and Simon Webbe, respectively.

In 2012 Rihanoff and Robin Windsor joined fellow professional Artem Chigvintsev and former Strictly contestant Kara Tointon for the first 'Dance to the Music Tour'.

In Summer 2015, Rihanoff and Windsor took part in the Touring Theatre Production of Puttin' On The Ritz,[15] as well as Dance Weekends around the county.

[17] She has also choreographed dance routines inside the television commercials, including those for St Tropez suntan lotion, Panache bras and MeMeMe Cosmetics.

[3] Rihanoff has written a book entitled The Art of Dancesport Makeup for newcomers to Ballroom dance competition, a subject that she studied extensively in Russia.

The tour featured Rihanoff and Robin Windsor, Oksana and Jonathan Platero, and six more professional world-class dancers.

Following her well-publicised relationship with Joe Calzaghe, it was revealed in 2015 that another of her former partners, Ben Cohen, had left his wife Abby for Rihanoff, and in 2016 the couple had a daughter, Milena.