Helio's Sister: No Romance With Julianne

Helio & Julianne in their exclusive OK! photo shoot.
(Austin Hargrave)

With rumors flying around that Dancing With the Stars champ Helio Castroneves is romantically involved with his dance partner on the show, 19-year-old beauty Julianne Hough, the race car driver's sister spoke to OK! to set the record straight.

“It’s not true,” Kati Castroneves tells OK! about the romance rumors. However, Kati does say Julianne became one of the family while guiding Helio, 32, to the championship of the hit ABC reality show. “We all got close to Julianne,” she says. “I call her Ju Ju. I have no sisters, so she’s like my little sister now. In my family, we stay friends with people forever.”

CLICK HERE for OK!'s exclusive pics of Helio & Julianne

As far as Helio’s breakup with fiancée Aliette Vasquez goes, however, Kati is keeping quiet. “I’m not going to comment," she explains. "It’s his personal life.”

Despite the sad news of her brother's broken engagement having taken over the headlines in recent days, Kati is still beaming about her brother's hard-earned DWTS victory. “We’re very proud of him. He has been working very hard. People saw Helio the way his family sees him — genuine and happy. He enjoys life."

Pick up the new issue of OK! for our exclusive interview and photo shoot with Helio and Julianne!

By Carole Glines