MARY KATE OLSEN - MARY KATE OLSEN SMITTEN

Teen star MARY-KATE OLSEN is dating New York nightclub owner RICHIE AKIVA - and the infatuated couple were spotted kissing and cuddling when they attended a New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden last month (23MAR05).

Olsen, 18, is a recovering anorexic and friends hope her blossoming romance will help her fully overcome the destructive eating disorder as she attends New York University.

Akiva has previously dated supermodel CARMEN KASS, while Olsen enjoyed a nine month romance with DAVID KATZENBERG, son of DREAMWORKS executive JEFFREY KATZENBERG, before they split last year (SEP04).