“Dancing with the Stars” pro Daniella Karagach, a beloved figure on the show, has bravely shared her personal experience with miscarriage for the first time. In an emotional interview, Daniella Dancing With The Stars revealed the pain and grief she endured before the joy of welcoming her daughter, Nikita.
Daniella Karagach and her husband, Pasha Pashkov, also a “DWTS” professional dancer, experienced the devastating loss in July 2022, around five weeks into her pregnancy. “I just remember one day I was pregnant, and then the next day I wasn’t,” Daniella recounted in her interview with “Good Morning America.” The suddenness of the miscarriage left her heartbroken, “I just remember like, falling to the floor [and was] like, ‘I can’t believe this happened to me.'”
Currently captivating audiences on “DWTS” season 33, Daniella Karagach dancing with the stars explained her decision to speak out about her miscarriage now, during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. As a new mother to one-year-old Nikita, Daniella hopes her story will provide comfort and solidarity to other women who have faced similar pain. “I want people to know they’re not alone, and a lot of people are going through the same thing,” she emphasized. She admitted that during her own experience, she felt too vulnerable to seek support, fearing judgment and unwanted advice.
Daniella Karagach and husband Pasha Pashkov welcomed their daughter Nikita in May 2023. (Daniella Karagach family photo)
Describing the miscarriage as “gut wrenching,” Daniella stressed that the emotional impact of pregnancy loss is profound, regardless of how far along the pregnancy is. “If it was one day or a week, or five months, or three months, or one month, or whatever the timeline was, like, it was still a loss for me, and it was a huge loss,” she shared. “It was a baby, you know. So it was something we’ve wanted and pictured ourselves [with].”
The National Institutes of Health defines miscarriage, or pregnancy loss, as the unexpected termination of a pregnancy before the 20th week. It is a surprisingly common occurrence, with the Office of Women’s Health estimating that 10 to 15 percent of confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage, and the actual number may be even higher due to early losses occurring before a woman realizes she is pregnant. Symptoms can vary, including vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain or cramps, and lower back pain.
In the aftermath of her miscarriage, Daniella Karagach dancing with the stars confessed to being in “my lowest of lows.” She credits her husband, Pasha, for being her “saving grace” during this dark period. “Pasha really got me out of that, like state, and he was obviously grieving with me, and it wasn’t easy to talk about at the moment, but he got me out of a really bad place,” Daniella explained. Together, they found strength in believing in timing and trusting that “if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen at the right time.”
Daniella Karagach and husband Pasha Pashkov welcomed their daughter Nikita in May 2023. (Daniella Karagach Pasha Pashkov Nikita family)
Following the miscarriage, Daniella and Pasha decided to focus on their careers, preparing for another demanding season of “Dancing with the Stars.” However, just a few months later, in September 2022, they received joyful news – Daniella was pregnant again. They welcomed their daughter, Nikita, in May 2023, completing their family.
Daniella’s Advice for Coping with Pregnancy Loss
Drawing from her own journey, Daniella Karagach dancing with the stars shared valuable advice for women navigating the emotional aftermath of miscarriage. Her insights offer a message of hope and resilience.
Seek Support and Share Your Experience
Daniella Karagach on Dancing with the Stars Season 33. (Daniella Karagach DWTS season 33)
Daniella emphasizes the importance of seeking support and not grieving in isolation. “If you don’t seek help, or if you don’t share it with someone, I feel like me personally, it could have really taken me down… because the first thing I wanted to do was blame myself,” she admitted. Sharing your experience, even if it doesn’t change the situation, can provide immense emotional upliftment.
Remember You Are Not Alone in This Journey
Daniella and Pasha found solace in watching videos of other women sharing their miscarriage stories online. “Both of us were sitting and watching these like,’ Okay, this is what happened to us, or this is how they went through it,’ [and] that personally took me out of it,” she said. Knowing that others have gone through similar experiences can be incredibly validating and reduce feelings of isolation. Daniella stressed, “There’s way more people going through it than people think, and a lot of them just don’t come out and say anything…But just know that you’re not alone, and everyone’s experience is different.”
Release Self-Blame and Acknowledge Your Grief
Daniella Karagach opens up about miscarriage. (Daniella Karagach miscarriage story)
Daniella passionately encourages women to release any self-blame associated with miscarriage. “No matter what anyone says, a loss is a loss, and it’s hard, it’s really hard, and you’re grieving, but you don’t have to blame yourself for it, because there’s nothing you can do or you could have done if you’re going through this that could have been your it’s not your fault,” she affirmed. Allowing yourself to grieve the loss is a crucial step in healing.
Channel Energy into Passions
Finding healthy distractions and focusing on passions can be a powerful coping mechanism. For Daniella Karagach dancing with the stars, returning to “DWTS” provided a positive outlet. “It was nice to have something that I’m passionate about and supported in, and just kind of put my energy into that for a second,” she shared. “I think that helped me truly relieve some stress.”
Daniella Karagach’s courageous decision to share her miscarriage story offers a message of hope, healing, and solidarity for women and families impacted by pregnancy loss. Her vulnerability reminds us of the importance of open conversations and mutual support in navigating life’s most challenging experiences.
Originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
