Aliona Vilani is one of only two professionals in Strictly Come Dancing history to lift the glitterball trophy twice. She won with Harry Judd in 2011 and Jay McGuiness in 2015, and she also choreographed the routine later voted the most memorable dance in the show's history.
Only Two Pros Have Won Twice
Only two Strictly professionals have won the series twice with their celebrity partners. The first was Oti Mabuse, who won with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and Bill Bailey in 2020. Aliona achieved the feat before her, with Harry Judd and Jay McGuiness.
Aliona, now 42, joined the series in 2009 and left in 2015. She finished runner-up with Matt Baker and won with both McFly's Harry Judd and The Wanted's Jay McGuiness.
The Iconic Pulp Fiction Jive
Her season 13 jive with Jay to a Pulp Fiction medley is widely regarded as one of the finest performances in Strictly history. It has accumulated over 5.2 million views on YouTube and was crowned the most memorable dance in Strictly history during a TV special in 2020.
Fans took to social media to celebrate the recognition. One fan wrote: "Jay and Aliona's Jive absolutely deserves the top stop on the #Strictly countdown. I've never forgotten it. It was the best dance ever!" Another remarked: "Jay and Aliona's Pulp Fiction Jive at number one... where it should be."
Viewers were surprised the routine did not receive a perfect score, with the judges awarding three nines and a 10. One Twitter user wrote: "Wait – Jay McGuiness' Jive only scored 37? Scandalous." Aliona never secured a 40 with Jay, but she received perfect scores twice with Harry Judd, for their Argentine Tango and Quickstep.
Controversy and Life After Strictly
In 2017, former children's TV presenter Johnny Ball, who was partnered with Aliona in 2012, accused her of manipulating the competition. 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."
He also alleged that his subsequent partner, Iveta Lukošiūtė, choreographed a routine too challenging for him, saying: "When I was knocked out she said, 'That's funny, my contract ends on Tuesday'." Aliona firmly refuted the allegations.
Days after winning her second trophy with Jay, Aliona announced she was leaving the show. Speculation suggested she was stepping away to start a family with husband Vincent Kavanagh, and the couple welcomed their daughter Bella in 2017.
