Dec 21 2010 Simon Boyle
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Kara and Artem embrace after her Strictly victory
STRICTLY champion Kara Tointon's new boyfriend Artem Chigvintsev has been branded "fame and money obsessed" - by his ex-wife.
Former EastEnders star Kara, 27, waltzed her way to the Strictly crown on Saturday and also captured the heart of hunky Russian dance partner Artem.
Kara gushed: "Artem is a true, generous gentleman. He has got me through it."
But Artem's ex-wife, ballroom champion Giselle Peacock, claims the "greedy" dancer used her to gain a Green Card - an American work visa.
And then he dumped her on the day he was offered his place on the US version of Strictly.
California-born Giselle, 29, who met Artem at a ballroom competition in Blackpool in 2003, explained: "He was a sweet, skinny Russian boy when I met him.
"But he became more and more obsessed with fame, success and money. Artem's a completely different person now.
"Kara can have him. She's welcome to him."
Giselle added: "He saw living in America as the fastest way to achieve his dream of becoming a huge success. He literally had no money, so for the first eight months I supported him by buying all his food, clothes, and dance classes."
The pair married in November 2004, and Artem, 28, was granted his American visa.
Early the following year, he joined Giselle at an audition for the new show Dancing With The Stars.
His charm and good looks instantly impressed producer Nigel Lythgoe, but Giselle missed out on a spot on the show.
Disappeared
She explained: "It instantly went to his head. I went home and Artem never came back. He literally disappeared out of my life and started staying with a friend.
"He stopped taking my calls. He never even went back to my dad's house to pick up his clothes. I was left to pay his outstanding bills and cancel dance lessons he'd scheduled.
"When Artem and I got married I believed it was for love. But for a long time after we split up, I questioned if underneath it all, Artem was just looking for a Green Card."
Artem later dated Carrie Ann Inaba, a high-profile dancing expert and judge on Dancing With The Stars - the US version of Strictly Come Dancing.
A spokesman for Artem declined to comment.
BUT SHE'S ON CLOUD 9
Kara Tointon could not contain her glee as she emerged from her home with new love Artem yesterday.
The 27-year-old former EastEnders star said: "I'm just feeling like I'm on cloud nine at the moment and it hasn't really sunk in yet."
They left Strictly Come Dancing winner Kara's north London home in a taxi.
Kara revealed: "It's just lovely to have some time doing some nice normal things.
It's early days, so we'll see how it goes."
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