Vanessa Bauer is one of the most prominent of the 12 professionals on Dancing On Ice’s 16th series.
The latest edition of the show, starting on January 14, has pulled in the likes of Adele Roberts, Amber Davies and Lou Sanders to compete – with Vanessa partnered with Made In Chelsea’s Miles Nazaire.
After Phillip Schofield was axed by ITV, this year’s will also be Stephen Mulhern’s first alongside Holly Willoughby as the show’s full-time host.
In light of those changes, Vanessa is becoming one of the show’s mainstays so, who is she?
Meet the figure skater who dated reality TV legend Joey Essex below.
Vanessa Bauer is one of Dancing On Ice’s most prominent professional stars. Pictured with 2024 partner Miles Nazaire
The German figure skater (pictured) has starred on the ITV show since she was 21
She moved to London after failing to find success in competitive figure skating in adult competition despite success at junior level
Who is Vanessa Bauer?
Vanessa Putri Bauer is a German dancer, acrobat and ice skater born in Berlin on May 26, 1996.
As a junior, aged 16, she won the German Figure Skating Championships with her partner Nolan Seegert – but they were not selected for the World Junior Championships the following year, and Vanessa did not go on to earn any senior medals.
She went on to perform on luxury cruise ships for Royal Caribbean before moving to north London in 2017 to join ITV’s roster of ice skaters.
Vanessa’s Instagram account is @vanessabauer_skates, where she shares snaps of her luxurious lifestyle and skating career – including roller skating in the summer.
She also regularly posts pictures of her workouts, required to maintain a body strong but agile enough to work as a figure skater.
Who has Vanessa Bauer been with on Dancing On Ice?
Vanessa joined Dancing on Ice as one of the professionals in January 2018 and was partnered with singer Jake Quickenden – with whom she earned a debut win.
She almost matched that feat in the two successive years with Love Island’s Wes Nelson and Diversity’s Perri Kiely finishing runners up with Vanessa in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Her 2021 partner, Emmerdale actor Joe-Warren Plant withdrew during series 13, before Vanessa bounced back for another second-placed finish in 2022 with Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole.
She was runner-up yet again in 2023, when she was partnered with future-boyfriend and TOWIE icon Joey Essex.
This year, she is with another reality star in the shape of Miles Nazaire.
Despite a brief fling, MailOnline revealed that Vanessa and Joey Essex did not see each other at all in the month after their series finale
In September 2023, Vanessa confirmed that she was in a relationship with businessman Dan Underwood
Does Vanessa Bauer have a boyfriend?
Vanessa and Joey enjoyed a brief fling after their Dancing On Ice experience, but no sooner had Vanessa said she was ‘very happy with her new partner, the TOWIE legend was planning a move abroad.
In fact, MailOnline revealed that the pair did not see each other at all in the month after the series.
Romance rumours also swirled when Vanessa was competing with Love Island alum Wes.
Although nothing was ever confirmed, they had both recently come out of relationships at the time, with Vanessa splitting from circus performer and boyfriend of two-and-a-half years Louis Nathaniel.
And although Made In Chelsea star Miles broke up with girlfriend Amélie Esquenet in advance of his ITV appearance, it seems unlikely that there will be a repeat of the 2023 events for Vanessa.
In September 2023, Vanessa confirmed that she was in a relationship with businessman Dan Underwood.
When she made things Instagram official, she captioned her snap of the pair of them: ‘Thank you for having me.’
Dan is the co-founder of sport social media marketing company YRDS.
DANCING ON ICE: MEET THE 2024 CONTESTANTS
RICKY HATTON
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: Former pro boxer
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink’
HANNAH SPEARRITT
AGE: 42
PROFESSION: SINGER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m really excited about learning a new skill. It’s so easy to live your comfortable life and that aspect of mixing things up is very appealing’
GREG RUTHERFORD
AGE: 36
PROFESSION: Athlete
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I like a challenge and I needed a reason to go out and do stuff again and here we are. I want to perform something that’s never been done before, that’s my aim.’
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
AGE: 59
PROFESSION: OLYMPIC SKI JUMPER
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Dancing on Ice is a show I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a challenge I think I’m going to relish!’
RICKY NORWOOD
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: EastEnders star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘It’s come at such a great time in life. I can’t skate at all! No rehearsals as yet, I’ve just had some physiotherapy to strengthen the body.’
RYAN THOMAS
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: Corrie star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Everyone keeps asking me, “are you doing it?” I’ve told everyone!’
CLAIRE SWEENEY
AGE: 52
PROFESSION: ACTRESS
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’
AMBER DAVIES
AGE: 26
PROFESSION: WEST END STAR
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I would definitely say that I’m an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them’
MILES NAZAIRE
AGE: 27
PROFESSION: REALITY STAR
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I’ve always loved to dance but it’s usually on a dance floor on a Saturday night and Dancing on Ice looks so difficult.’
LOU SANDERS
AGE: 37
PROFESSION: COMEDIAN
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m nervous about cracking my head open, or just bashing the old head. I can’t afford to lose any more brain cells.’
ADELE ROBERTS
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: RADIO PRESENTER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘It’s ”bricking it on ice” for me! I think the hardest part is putting myself out there as I usually hide away’
ROXY SHAHIDI
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: Emmerdale star
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I can’t ice-skate. I haven’t really said anything to anyone but mainly because I’m so nervous about it!’
