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DWTS Exclusive: Gleb’s Secret Wife

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There’s nothing wrong with watching Dancing With The Stars to swoon over an assortment of professional ballroom beefcakes. Over the show’s 16 seasons, few have caused as much a stir as new arrival Gleb Savchenko, the Russian-born hunk paired with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump. But not so fast, ladies – it turns out that Gleb is far from single. “I’m telling the truth, because I don’t want to hide anything,” Gleb tells Star in an exclusive interview, I am married, and I have been married for six years.”

Watch an episode of DWTS, or even go to Gleb’s personal website, and you would never know he’s attached, let alone happily married with a three-year-old daughter. And Gleb’s wife, Elena Samodanova, isn’t just a gorgeous blonde – she has also been his professional dance partner for eight years! “We compete together,” says Gleb, 29. “She was even on Dancing With The Stars in Australia.”

So how come there’s little mention of the happy family that is living with Gleb in Los Angeles? That would ruin the illusion. “I try not to mention it so I don’t scare all the girls,” laughs Gleb. “Will they still fall in love with me now? I hope so.”

If the early uproar is any indication, Gleb will break hearts no matter his marital status. As a performer who has won six Latin Dance championships from Australia to Hong Kong, odds are strong that he and Lisa will last long in the competition. But is Gleb ready to follow in the footsteps of DWTS alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy  to become the show’s biggest draw? “Everyone says I’m a heartthrob,” Gleb says. “I was like, ’What is that?’ I didn’t even know what that means. I had to have someone explain it to me.”

As for Elena, it sounds like Gleb has found the perfect partner – a beautiful woman who understands the rigors of his job and who can handle her husband becoming a sex symbol to the legions of DWTS fans. “My wife supports me,” he says “She doesn’t get jealous. She understands it’s a show.”