Valentin Chmerkovskiy

Valentin Chmerkovskiy is a Ukrainian pro dancing champion with numerous world and national trophies to his name.

Early Accomplishments

After moving to the US when he was 6, he became fascinated with dancing and began at age 7. 

At 12 years of age, he participated in his debut global contest, The German Open.

Tutored by his brother, Diana Olonetskaya and Val became the world junior dance champions when he was 15. 

Prior to this, no American dance couple had achieved the feat.

Best Known For

He has contested on Dancing with the Stars for 17 seasons and won his first mirrorball in season 20 in 2015 with Rumer Willis as his partner and then again in 2016’s season 23 with Laurie Hernandez.

Asides being a world junior champion, he is also a world youth champion. He competed in the national Latin dance competition 17 times and won it 14 times.

Sexual Orientation

Valentin is straight and is now married to Jenna Johnson. After dating for first for 8 months in 2016 and again for 12 months in 2017, he proposed to her at a Venice restaurant in June 2018. Before Jenna, he dated Janel Parrish in 2014.

Family

He is the younger son of Aleksandr Chmerkovskiy and Larisa Chmerkovskaya, with his brother being famous dancer and instructor Maksim, which means his sister-in-law to be Peta Murgatroyd.

Religion 

Although his mother is Jewish and his father is a Christian, Val has chosen the way of Judaism.

Worth To Know

Val is also a rapper who uses the alias Val C. He released his song, White Boy Boogie in 2011 and is on YouTube.

He is the co-owner of a franchise dance studio, “Dance With Me” at 9 locations across the country.