Smirnoff, the five-time US National ballroom dancing champion and current dance partner to Ralph Macchio on Dancing with the Stars is posing for the upcoming Playboy May edition. Rumor has it that the ABC bosses aren’t too pleased with their dancing queen going x-rated for the men’s magazine and worry about possibly tarnishing the popular show’s G-rated image.

So is Smirnoff afraid of any potential consequences from her DWTS bosses?

“I’m fearless and love the adrenaline rush,” the dancing queen says.

“Sexy is the confident energy a person produces,” Smirnoff,32, tells Playboy. “Sexy is the comfortable feeling of being who you are.”

I don’t see how it could affect DWTS, do you? Hugh Hefner says the upcoming issue with Karina baring all is unforgetable. I wonder how much did he have to pay her to get naked? Must be a whole lot to get that adrenaline rush, you think?

images via WENN

Hugh Hefner broke the news on Twitter: ‘The May issue of Playboy is unforgettable with Dancing With The Stars’ Karina Smirnoff on the cover & nude inside.’

Smirnoff partners up with Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio in this season’s DWTS.

Did you know Smirnoff is a five-time U.S. national champion and was at one point ranked second in the world? OMG!

The dancing queen is set to get married in January 2012 to baseball pro fiance Brad Penny.

Will you be buying Playboy because of the DWTS hottie?

images via WENN

Karina, 32, told People that the couple have actually been engaged since October 4th!

The dancing queen said, “We kept it quiet because my family is in New York and Brad’s family is in Oklahoma so we kind of wanted them to come out and celebrate and be a family first before we let the cat out of the bag”

Smirnoff showed off her 4.5 carat Asscher Cut diamond engagement ring at Tao Las Vegas’s five-year anniversary party. Though Brad wasn’t at Tao with his fiancé, he sent her a hand-written note in a fortune cookie apologizing for his absence – the cookie also contained an Everlon diamond necklace. Wow! I say no-show is good!

Karina said,”I’m marrying a Southern Gentleman.”

The couple started dating in October 2009, shortly after Smirnoff and fellow Dancing With The Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy went busted!

Congratulations!

photos: Fame

more gorgeous photos of Karina after the jump..

Karina says she stopped wearing fur after learning about what happens to animals who are killed for their skins.

“I did wear fur, especially when I was little. But there are ways of being warm and being fashionable without being cruel.”

Each year, millions of foxes, minks, raccoons, chinchillas, rabbits, and other animals—including dogs and cats—are bludgeoned, strangled, drowned, and electrocuted so their fur can be made into so-called “luxury items.” Many of these animals are even skinned alive for fashion.

Karina adds ”You have a choice as an individual, you have a choice in the press, in the world, whether to make a statement that you do support killing animals or make a statement when you don’t. And you can still be as chic as you can possibly want to be.” via PETA

I am throwing in a couple more gorgeous photos of Karina below

photos: Peta; Bauer Griffin

More pictures after the dance routine…

Karina announced she became engaged on New Year’s Eve to Maksim Chmerkovskiy.  He dances on Dancing With the Stars as well and with a name like that, you can guess where he came from.  The pair only began dating in the fall and are engaged.  People Magazine says:

Chmerkovskiy popped the question to his girlfriend of less than six months in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve, according to a source. The couple rang in 2009 at the Wynn Hotel in Sin City.

Ahhhh…Vegas.  The city of liquor and hangovers and quickie weddings.  Can they truly be in love and ready for marriage already?

Photos: PR Photos