Peta Murgatroyd and Maks Chmerkovskiy aren't just dancers. They are, quite honestly, the closest thing the ballroom world has to royalty, though it hasn't always been a smooth waltz. If you've watched Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) over the last decade, you've seen the chemistry. It’s loud. It’s intense. Sometimes, it’s a little bit messy. But that’s exactly why people can’t stop looking.
They met back in 2009. Broadway. Burn the Floor. At the time, Maks was the "bad boy" of the ballroom, a reputation he earned through blunt critiques and a fiery temper on ABC’s hit show. Peta was the newcomer, a talented Australian ballerina-turned-ballroom pro with a work ethic that rivaled anyone in the industry. They didn’t fall in love at first sight. Far from it. In fact, their timeline is a tangled web of breakups, other high-profile relationships, and a very public reconciliation that eventually led to a massive wedding at Oheka Castle in 2017.
The Rough Start and the "Bad Boy" Reputation
People forget that Maks was engaged to Karina Smirnoff before things ever got serious with Peta. The ballroom world is small. Tiny, actually. When you spend ten hours a day pressed against someone in a rehearsal studio, emotions get high. Maks and Peta started dating around 2012, but it didn't last. He actually broke up with her. It wasn’t a "we're moving in different directions" kind of split; it was a "this isn't working" moment that left Peta devastated.
He stayed in the headlines. She kept winning Mirrorspheres.
By the time they found their way back to each other in 2014, the dynamic had shifted. Maks had softened—slightly. Peta had become a household name in her own right, winning the competition with partners like Donald Driver and Nyle DiMarco. When they finally got back together, it felt permanent. It felt like the "bad boy" had finally been tamed, though if you ask Maks, he’d probably say he just finally realized what he was missing.
Fertility Struggles and the Reality of "Having It All"
This is where the story gets heavy. We see the glitz on Instagram. We see the spray tans and the Swarovski crystals. But Peta and Maks have been incredibly raw about their journey to expand their family. Most people know about their first son, Shai, born in 2017. What many don't realize is the grueling three-year battle they faced afterward.
Peta suffered three miscarriages.
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One of them happened while Maks was thousands of miles away in Ukraine. Another occurred while she was on the floor at a DWTS rehearsal. Imagine that. You're bleeding, you're grieving, and you have to go out and perform a Samba for millions of viewers. They eventually turned to IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). Peta documented the shots, the hormones, and the emotional toll on her social media, which honestly changed the way fans viewed her. She wasn't just a dancer anymore; she was a woman navigating the heartbreak of secondary infertility.
Their second son, Rio John, arrived in June 2023. Then, in a twist that felt like a reward for all that struggle, they naturally conceived their third son, Milan, who was born in July 2024. Three boys. A "boy mom" life that Peta jokes about constantly. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s real.
Maks, Ukraine, and the Reality of War
In February 2022, the world watched as Maks Chmerkovskiy became an accidental war correspondent. He was in Kyiv filming World of Dance Ukraine when Russia invaded.
It was terrifying.
For days, he posted raw, unfiltered videos from his balcony and later from a train station as he tried to evacuate. You could see the fear in his eyes. This wasn't a choreographed routine. This was life and death. Peta was back in Los Angeles, shell-shocked, trying to explain to their son why Dad wasn't coming home yet.
Maks eventually made it out through Poland, but the experience changed him. He didn't just go back to Hollywood and forget about it. He and his brother, Val Chmerkovskiy, launched "Baranova27," a charitable organization named after their childhood address in Odessa. They’ve shipped hundreds of thousands of pounds of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. This is the nuance people miss—Maks is often portrayed as the "arrogant" dancer, but his commitment to his home country suggests a much deeper level of character.
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Business Beyond the Ballroom
If you think they just live off DWTS paychecks, you're wrong. The Chmerkovskiy family is a business empire.
- Dance Studios: They own and operate several Dance with Me studios across the United States.
- Peta Jane Beauty: Peta launched her own line of tanning products. She knows more about fake tan than almost anyone on the planet, so it actually makes sense as a brand.
- Savor Tune: Their most recent venture into the wellness and lifestyle space.
They’ve diversified. They know that a dancer’s career has an expiration date. Knees give out. Backs fail. By building these brands, they’ve ensured that their "Max & Peta" identity translates into long-term financial stability. It’s a smart play.
Why Their Relationship Actually Works
Ballroom dancing is inherently patriarchal. The man leads, the woman follows. But in the Chmerkovskiy household, that dynamic doesn't really fly. Peta is the backbone. Maks is the fire.
They argue. They’ve admitted to going to marriage counseling. In an era where every celebrity couple tries to pretend their life is a curated Pinterest board, their willingness to say "today was hard" is refreshing. They deal with the same stuff everyone else does: toddler tantrums, work-life balance, and the aging process.
Common Misconceptions
Some people think Maks is still the same hot-head he was in Season 13 of DWTS. He's not. Parenting changed him. Others think Peta is just a "trophy wife" to the famous Chmerkovskiy name. Again, wrong. She’s often the one driving their business decisions and keeping the family's public image grounded.
What You Can Learn From Their Journey
Whether you’re a fan of the show or just interested in how high-profile couples survive the lime-light, there are a few takeaways here that are actually useful for real life.
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1. Resilience is a choice.
Peta didn't stop after the first or second miscarriage. She sought medical help, she spoke up, and she kept going. In business and in personal life, that "get back up" attitude is what separates those who succeed from those who fade away.
2. Pivot when necessary.
Maks realized he couldn't be a competitive dancer forever. He moved into producing, judging, and philanthropy. If your current career path feels like it's hitting a ceiling, look at how you can use your existing skills in a new arena.
3. Authenticity beats perfection.
The reason people still care about Peta and Maks isn't because they are perfect; it's because they are honest. Share your struggles. It builds a connection that a polished facade never could.
4. Family over everything.
Despite the fame, they consistently prioritize their kids. Maks has frequently turned down opportunities that would take him away from his sons for too long. Setting boundaries is essential, no matter what you do for a living.
The story of Peta and Maks is still being written. With three young boys and a growing business portfolio, they are moving away from the "dancer" label and into the "mogul" category. It’s been a long road from Burn the Floor, but they’ve proven that you can survive the drama of reality TV and come out the other side with something meaningful.
To keep up with their latest moves, follow Peta's updates on her tanning line or check out the Baranova27 website to see how their humanitarian efforts are evolving. These aren't just steps on a dance floor; they're the building blocks of a lasting legacy.