Strictly's Karen Clifton slips into a nude bikini as she sees in 2019 on a deserted beach with her new man... and vows 'this is just the beginning'

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She posted an Instagram Story to her social media on New Year's Eve, looking extremely giddy on a sun-drenched beach somewhere.

And a day later Karen Clifton uploaded another snap from the same beach, with the caption 'This is just the beginning...' to see in 2019.

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 36, posed with her back to the camera, showing off her derrière, in a tan bikini, almost invisible thanks to her golden, sun-kissed glow.

Life's a beach! Karen Clifton uploaded a seaside snap to her Instagram on New Year's Day, with the caption 'This is just the beginning...' next to it

Looking cheekily over one shoulder, the ballroom pro held both hands up in peace signs.

Her current seaside frolics are thought to be taking place while she's on vacation with her new man, opera singer David Webb, who spent Christmas with her and her mother over the festive break.

Despite this, she chatted about her ex-husband, Kevin, whom she split from earlier this year, after three years of marriage, to Hello! magazine last week.

She said: 'Kevin and I went through a lot this year, but the fact is we are supportive and stay positive and can be kind to one another, despite what people probably wanted.

Good mood: Looking cheekily over one shoulder, the ballroom pro held both hands up in peace signs

Having a ball: Her Instagram posts over the past 48 hours have seen her frolicking delightedly on a stunning beach, splashing around and laughing at the camera, presumably filmed by David

'They most likely couldn’t believe that we would still be really good friends and wish the best for each other. I have a lot of love for Kevin and respect for him.' 

Kevin - who won this year's Strictly Come Dancing with his contestant Stacey Dooley - married Karen in the summer of 2015, and was her second husband. She was also his second wife.

Prior to her union with Kevin, Karen was married to her former dance partner Matthew Hauer until 2009, while Kevin was previously wed to another pro dancer, Clare Craze.

Karen also told Hello! that: 'Having love in my life is a beautiful thing. There is definitely no ruling that out.'

All is well: Karen has insisted she still has 'a lot of love and respect' for her ex-husband Kevin, whom she split from earlier this year, after three years of marriage

Speaking to Hello! magazine, she said: 'Kevin and I went through a lot this year, but the fact is we are supportive and stay positive and can be kind to one another, despite what people probably wanted'

New man: And indeed, it seems Karen is throwing herself head-first into her dalliance with singer David

And indeed, it seems she is throwing herself head-first into her dalliance with singer David. 

The professional dancer, 36, was seen emerging from a Manhattan hotel with the tenor, 34, on Thursday as they prepared to head back to the UK, laden with multiple suitcases from their festive break.

And since then she has cropped up elsewhere in the world - thought to be holidaying with her new man.

Her Instagram posts over the past 48 hours have seen her frolicking delightedly on a stunning beach, splashing around and laughing at the camera, presumably filmed by David.

Ink job: Karen unveiled a new Buddhist peace tattoo via Instagram on Sunday, as the spiritual star moves on from ex-husband Kevin

She also got a tattoo which represented 'the path to enlightenment' on her forearm this weekend, unveiling the new inking in a number of images shared with her 156k Instagram followers on Sunday.

Her tattoo was an intricately designed spiral, and of its meaning she said: 'Unalome: The unalome symbol represents the path to enlightenment in the Buddhist culture. 

'The spirals are meant to symbolise the twists & turns in life, & the straight lines are meant to represent the moment one reaches enlightenment, peace or inner harmony.'

The Strictly star documented her tattoo journey with her fans through a number of photographs, one of which saw her wincing as she had the procedure done.

Split: Prior to her union with Kevin, Karen was married to her former dance partner Matthew Hauer until 2009, while Kevin was previously wed to another pro dancer, Clare Craze

Having fun: The Strictly star documented her tattoo journey with her fans through a number of photographs, one of which saw her pull a funny face as she had the procedure

Winner! Kevin was crowned winner of this year's Strictly Come Dancing with documentary maker Stacey Dooley earlier this month

Despite the couple's split, Kevin told BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans in July: 'We wanted to let everyone know that privately we’re not together anymore, but professionally we are stronger than ever.

'Dance has always been the thing… dance is how we came together and has been the glue that held us together for years now'.

He added: 'We’re still the best of friends, we’ve got a lot of love and respect for each other, I still pretty much see Karen every day.'