Kym Johnson-Herjavec is an Australian ballroom dancer who has found fame on both sides of the Pacific Ocean with her appearances on Dancing With the Stars in her home country and the USA. A former competitive ballroom dancer, she travelled the world appearing in (and winning) many contests. She has appeared on Dancing With the Stars as both a professional performer and judge and has also had the distinction of performing at many notable events, including Elton John’s 50th birthday party.
Born Kym Johnson in Sydney, Johnson-Herjavec took up ballroom dancing when she was 13 years old. She won her first major competition ten years later and got her television break in 2004 when she was invited to take part in Dancing With the Stars, an Australian take on the hit UK show Strictly Come Dancing. She was the professional partner to actor Justin Melvey, and the pair made it to the final, finishing third. The following year, she partnered with radio presenter Tom Williams, and the pair won. By 2014, Johnson-Herjavec had become a star in her own right, appearing on shows like Celebrity Apprentice and becoming one of Dancing With the Stars’ judges.
Her fame and talent took her to America, where she joined the cast of the US version of Dancing… in 2006. In her first Stateside season, she was partnered with legendary talk show host Jerry Springer. As her profile grew, Johnson-Herjavec also showed her entrepreneurial side, developing the 5678 fitness routine and opening a dance studio, BOD, in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.