Giovanni Pernice unveils matching tattoo with Italian Strictly girlfriend as pair take relationship step amid marriage rumours
Giovanni Pernice and Bianca Guaccero have unveiled matching tattoos days after they were crowned winners of Italy’s Ballando con le Stelle.
Their victory sparked marriage speculation after the Strictly Come Dancing star vowed to “seriously think about” proposing.
The couple, who confirmed their romance in November, secured the title on Saturday night’s finale, beating Olympic champion Federica Pellegrini and her partner Pasquale La Rocca.
The win marks a triumphant end to 2024 for Pernice, 34, following his controversial exit from Strictly Come Dancing amid the Amanda Abbington bullying row.
“If we win the show, I’ll seriously think about it,” Pernice had claimed about popping the question after performing a breathtaking Tango with Guaccero, 43.
But before any plans to tie the knot have been put in place, the pair have committed to another life-long commitment by getting matching tattoos to mark their dance show victory.
Taking to Instagram on Monday night, Guaccero shared an image of her and Pernice’s wrists with the date of their Ballando con le Stelle win inked on.
“@Giovannipernice. Una data,” Guaccero penned followed by a gold medal emoji. “INCANCELLABILE [love heart emoji] @ballandoconlestelle.”
The translation of the message to English reads: “A date. Indelible.”
The pair’s romance blossomed during their time on the show, with Guaccero admitting she had “difficulty believing in true love” until meeting Pernice.
“After a long time, there is someone who takes care of me and cares about me. A woman like her has been missing from my life,” Pernice declared.
The couple’s chemistry was evident both on and off the dance floor, sharing a kiss after performing a sensual Rumba routine.
“He’s goofy and crazy, and that made me fall in love with him. It had been a long time since I felt happiness in my heart,” Guaccero revealed.
In November, Pernice announced that Bianca was his “priority” and would remain so “beyond the show.”
The couple have been getting to know each other’s families, with Guaccero visiting Pernice in London and the dancer meeting her family in Bitonto, Southern Italy.
“I had a heavy stone on my heart,” Guaccero shared. “When I met Giovanni I felt at home and I was in London with him and then 24 hours with my parents.”
Bianca’s mother Rosa has given her seal of approval, stating: “I like him as a person.”
She added: “Bianca has never said it to me explicitly but love doesn’t need to be announced, you see it and you feel it and that is enough.”
The victory comes after a challenging year for Pernice, who departed from Strictly Come Dancing following a BBC investigation into allegations made by his former partner Abbington.
The BBC cleared Pernice of 10 out of 16 allegations when its probe concluded in September.
However, six claims were upheld, including complaints of verbal bullying and harassment, which prompted an apology from BBC bosses.
The broadcaster confirmed Pernice would not participate in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, leading to his move to the Italian show.
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The Sicilian dancer vehemently denied any wrongdoing throughout the controversy.
Looking ahead, Pernice will return to British television in Celebrity Hunted, airing on January 5, where he will compete for Stand Up To Cancer.
The dancer is also set to embark on his nationwide ‘The Last Dance’ tour in mid-January, starting at Hayes’ Beck Theatre and concluding at the London Palladium.
Pernice has announced he plans to take a “little break” following the tour, stating: “After performing in front of over half a million people for seven years in a row, I plan to take a little break after next year’s tour.”