Cheryl Burke got a lot of crap from the media and her fellow professionals on Dancing with the Stars last year about gaining a little weight. Though she claims she never rose above a size four, it obviously put a lot of pressure on her to drop the pounds.  Now- after being spotted in a bikini on the beaches of St. Lucia- Cheryl is speaking out about her happiness with her body.

“I gained a few pounds and everybody was talking about it last year,” Burke told People magazine. “But taking it off was simply a matter of doing a bit more cardio to supplement my dancing. I’m also making sure I eat clean foods and healthy snacks.”

She credits her hot Abercrombie boyfriend, Maxwell Zagorski, for her healthier eating habits.

“He’s a much better cook than I am and it helps when we eat meals together that are healthy as opposed to going out for dinner, which I did a lot when I was single,” says Burke.

Good for you, girl! You got a ridiculously hot man (much hotter than those losers who criticized your weight), you’re mega-talented and super successful, you have a work-out dvd, three dance studios, and you’re a worldwide celeb. Seems like life is good!

[image: people.com]

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For once getting along so well that infidelity rumors ran rampant, Drew Lachey is surely distancing himself from former Dancing with the Stars partner Cheryl Burke. In fact, he is speaking out in opposition to her and partner Gilles Marini taking home the championship, instead rooting for petite gymnastic powerhouse, Shawn Johnson.

“She’s 17 years old.  She’s putting herself out there, doing something completely foreign to her. Adults can adjust a bit easier, but for a 17-year-old to go out there? My hat goes off to her.”

In addition, Lachey joked that if Burke and Marini were to win the eighth-season mirror ball trophy it would “belittle” his victory with her in February 2006. ..”I’m going to have to go back on there and show people that it wasn’t her — it was me,” he told E! News. “If I had a different partner, I still would have won.”

I am hoping for a Melissa Rycroft, Shawn Johnson, and Gilles Marini finale. I would be ecstatic if any of those three won.

Who do you hope wins the coveted mirrorball trophy?

[images: WENN]

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No one had ever heard the name Gilles Marini before he became a front runner to win this season of Dancing with the Stars. Now he is a household name, and his hot body is the envy of men and longing of women across America. (Personally, I think my husband is hotter, but I understand the Gilles hype).

And though Cheryl Burke said she would get Gilles naked if that’s what it took to progress in the show, now she is backing down a bit from that strategy. Here’s what she said about a shirtless Gilles and the rest of the competition:

On being the only couple to receive a perfect 30 so far:
Burke: I think this season’s tough because there’s no clear front-runner. It’s exciting because it can be anyone’s game and we’re all putting in a lot of work. At the end, I think it’ll really be a true victory for any of these celebrities. He and I work a lot of hours during the day, so we’re trying our hardest to come out there and do the best we can.

On Gilles taking off his clothes:
Burke: [Laughs] I think we’re going to cool it for a little bit. If we make it to the finale, then maybe we’ll do it one more time. But I think it’s working so far!

On Gilles’ shoulder injury:
Burke: He says it’s fine and he had his cortisone shot. He’s going to need surgery after the show, but the cortisone shot is really helping him for now. I’m really trying to choreograph around it. I don’t want him to injure it and not be able to continue. Like last week with the Lindy Hop, I made sure the lifts were around his shoulder and doesn’t cause too much strain on it.

On opening her third dance studio:
Burke: Yup, in Orange County in Laguna Niguel. My second one opened in February and my first one opened last April. I’m opening them slowly but surely. My goal is obviously to make it nationwide. I want to make sure I spend enough time there as well. Having three right now is enough on my plate. I teach a lot of master classes. As soon as I’m done with the show, I’m going to take a week vacation and then go right back to my studio.

I’m glad they’re going to lay off the naked Gilles thing for a while. He’s a really good dancer on his own and I think all the skin showing takes away a little from his raw talent. I can’t wait to see how these two finish up the competition! I want a Melissa Rycroft/Gilles Marini final. It’ll be the best one ever!!

[image: WENN]

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Cheryl Burke may have a new hot Abercrombie boyfriend, but she is still interested in getting her Dancing with the Stars partner naked. In return for our votes, she will have her partner lose some clothing.

“Every week we advance, he will lose one piece of clothing,” Burke told People. “He’s the naked guy from the Sex and the City movie, and people know he has a great body. So he can pull it off.”

And how does Marini feel about being our eye candy?

“I will do whatever it takes,” he said. “Cheryl is the boss.”

This should get interesting… There aren’t that many articles of clothing for him to lose, eh?

[image: WENN]

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