Her recent British citizenship marks a significant milestone in an extraordinary journey. This professional dancer has become a beloved figure in UK entertainment through seven years of dazzling work on Strictly Come Dancing.
Before captivating British audiences, she dominated competitive dance floors. As an eight-time South African Latin American champion, her technical excellence was undeniable. The transition to television showcased her versatility and charisma.
Her legacy on the popular dance competition includes two glitterball trophies. She first won with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019, then repeated the achievement with Bill Bailey in 2020. These victories cemented her status as one of the show’s most successful professionals.
Today, she balances multiple creative roles while embracing motherhood. Married to fellow dancer Marius Iepure, they welcomed their daughter in late 2023. She now moves between judging panels, reality television appearances, and even published her first romance novel.
Her sister Motsi Mabuse serves as a judge on the same show, creating a remarkable family dance dynasty. Their parallel paths highlight a shared dedication to their craft.
Early Life and Dance Beginnings in South Africa
The story begins with a family’s response to profound loss, channeling grief into the disciplined art of dance. After the tragic death of her older brother, the Mabuse children found a new focus.
Their mother, a teacher, created a structured world of dance classes. She aimed to protect her children from the challenges of their Mabopane neighborhood.
Family Influences and Early Dance Exposure
Dance became the family’s shared language. It filled their Pretoria home with rhythm and purpose. The three sisters—Motsi, Phemelo, and Oti—learned steps almost as soon as they could walk.
Their father, a lawyer who became a high court judge, instilled a powerful sense of belonging. He taught his daughters to carry themselves with confidence in every space.
Growing Up in Mabopane
Life in South Africa was vibrant and complex. The family home burst with bold colors, plants, and music. Evenings often ended with impromptu living room performances.
For the Mabuse children, dancing was daily life. It was their cultural inheritance and a path to a brighter future. This foundation in South African dance culture shaped Oti’s identity forever.
Journey to Becoming a Professional Dancer
The leap from national champion to global professional dancer required a bold geographical and personal shift. Her path was built on relentless determination.
Transition from South Africa to International Stages
After claiming the title of South African champion eight times, she sought a greater challenge. The ballroom dance world in Europe offered that stage.
In 2012, she moved to Germany, a country where the art form is deeply respected. This move marked her official transition into the international circuit.
It was there she met Romanian dancer Marius Iepure. Their professional partnership quickly blossomed into romance, leading to marriage in 2014.
2015 became her breakthrough year. She joined the cast of “Let’s Dance,” the German version of Strictly Come Dancing. That same year, she first appeared on the UK version, launching her television career on two fronts.
Training Routines and Competition Experiences
Her competitive fire ignited early. Childhood trips to compete in Blackpool introduced her to British culture through fish and chips and pick’n’mix sweets.
She pushed her first dance partner relentlessly, driven by a singular focus on victory. This intensity defined her early competition experience.
She initially pursued a degree in civil engineering. Choosing to abandon her studies for dance was a defiant act, prioritizing passion over convention.
The ballroom competition culture presented its own hurdles. Dancers faced intense scrutiny over body size and appearance, where a specific, thin physique was often the unwritten standard for success.
Breakthrough on Strictly Come Dancing
The television screen became her new stage in 2015. Joining the cast of Strictly Come Dancing began a seven-year journey that transformed a professional dancer into a household name.
Her first series showcased an immediate connection with the audience. She brought a unique blend of technical precision and infectious joy to the dance floor.
First Steps onto the Dance Floor of Television
Each celebrity partner presented a new challenge. She adapted her teaching style for an actor, an Olympic boxer, and a cricketer.
This required deep emotional intelligence. Her goal was to unlock the unique potential within each partner.
| Partner | Profession | Series | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Mac | Actor | 2016 | Finalist |
| Anthony Ogogo | Olympic Boxer | 2015 | Early Exit |
| Graeme Swann | Former Cricketer | 2018 | Semi-Finalist |
| Kelvin Fletcher | Actor | 2019 | Winner |
| Bill Bailey | Comedian | 2020 | Winner |
Winning Moments and Audience Connection
Victory with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 was a career-defining moment. It validated her intense work ethic and creative choreography.
The following year, she achieved a rare back-to-back win with Bill Bailey. This triumph proved her ability to find grace in the most unexpected places.
Her presence resonated far beyond technique. Many women shared how seeing someone who looked like her on a mainstream show inspired them to embrace dancing.
She left the show as a performer in 2021 but continues contributing through choreography. Her legacy on the program remains powerful and visible.
Oti Mabuse: Life in the Spotlight and Personal Reflections
Behind the glittering performances lay moments of profound personal struggle that few viewers ever witnessed. The dancer’s journey through fame involved navigating intense pressure while maintaining a public smile.
Overcoming Challenges in the Public Eye
Last year on a podcast, she revealed the crushing weight of perfectionism. Her husband once found her fully clothed on the shower floor, crying from Strictly stress.
She felt she represented more than herself. Many people saw their own stories reflected in her presence.
This internal pressure drove her to two victories. Yet the personal cost was significant at that time.
Insights from Her Candid Interview
Regarding Strictly’s recent controversies, she offered characteristically honest perspective. She noted that professional pressure often comes from within dancers themselves.
The real work, she remembered, is bringing joy to people. The show exists for entertainment above all else.
Her I’m a Celebrity appearance last year showcased similar vulnerability. She shared her daughter’s premature birth story with millions.
Her mother questioned whether engineering training prepared her for jungle challenges. But pride ultimately followed the humorous doubt.
Balancing Motherhood and a Demanding Dance Career
A medical crisis in late 2023 redefined the dancer’s understanding of strength. Her daughter arrived ten weeks early, beginning a challenging six-week stay in neonatal intensive care.
Oti Mabuse faced her own serious health battles with sepsis and gestational diabetes simultaneously. This period tested her resilience in entirely new ways.
Early Motherhood and Resilience After Challenges
In the sixteen months following her baby’s birth, her professional output was remarkable. She returned to judge Dancing on Ice, appeared on I’m a Celebrity, and published her first romance novel.
Motherhood intensified her ambition instead of dimming it. Her driving force became creating a legacy her child could watch one day.
She acknowledges her body changed. Flexibility and strength lessened, but she views this as a temporary result of pausing her routine, not a permanent loss.
Inspiration to Create for Her Daughter
Her perspective on her body transformed completely. She now sees it as an amazing instrument that produced something incredible.
This shift was intentional. She consciously relearned her self-talk, knowing her daughter hears everything and will model that behavior.
The goal is for her child to see “mommy and daddy on stage.” This vision fuels her creative projects. Ordinary joys, like coming home to her husband and daughter for a play in the park, now ground her extraordinary career.
Behind the Scenes in Choreography and Creative Process
Creating a new dance tour requires both physical endurance and imaginative vision, blending global traditions into fresh expressions. The professional dancer approaches this work with the same intensity that defined her competition years.
Innovative Dance Tour Concepts like Viva Carnival
Viva Carnival represents a creative shift from her previous introspective show. Where “I Am Here” explored South African roots, this new dance tour looks forward to global celebrations.
The concept draws from world festivals—Brazil’s carnival to Glastonbury. She aims to create her own dance carnival that connects cultures through movement. This tour reflects where she would love to go artistically.
The Role of Daily Practice and Studio Work
Preparation involves punishing daily routines. For three weeks, she dedicated two hours daily to gym work. The focus was on knee strength, flexibility, and building stamina for two-hour performances.
After gym sessions, she spends three more hours in the dance studio. This five-hour daily commitment shows the work required to return to peak performance level.
She and her husband run their own dance studio, which serves as both business and creative laboratory. Here, she develops choreography for Strictly behind the scenes while teaching students.
Sometimes during teaching, old self-critical thoughts about her body surface. These moments reveal the ongoing work of unlearning perfectionism. Choreography remains her artistic language for connecting with audiences and building a legacy.
Collaborations and Dance Partnerships on Stage
In 2012, a search for a new dance partner in Germany led to a meeting that would define her career and personal life. She found Marius Iepure, a Romanian-German Latin and ballroom specialist. Their partnership quickly became the foundation for everything that followed.
They built their relationship on a shared passion for movement. Before marrying in 2014, they danced together in numerous competitions. Their professional chemistry translated into victory, winning gold at the German National Show Dancing Championships.
Working with Husband Marius Iepure
Their dynamic is refreshingly honest. Like any couple, they can irritate each other in daily life. But when they dance, she says, “it’s magic.” This magic transcends the ordinary friction of married life.
Their trust is physical and their mistakes are public on the ballroom floor. This decade-plus partnership has survived competitive pressure, international moves, and new parenthood. The essential dance connection remains strong.
Memorable Duets and Professional Chemistry
Today, they run a dance studio together, blending artistic vision with an entrepreneurial partnership. They are creating the “Viva Carnival” tour as a family business. Working with her husband is described as “so much fun.”
Their daughter will grow up watching mommy and daddy create together on stage. This inherits a powerful model of collaborative artistry. Their joint experience spans over ten years of performing as a couple.
| Year | Event | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Partnership Begins | Met as dance partners in Germany |
| 2014 | Personal Milestone | Married after engagement on her birthday |
| Pre-2014 | Competitive Success | Won German National Show Dancing Championships |
| 2024 | Creative Venture | Co-creating the “Viva Carnival” dance tour |
Inspiring Others: Representation and Diversity in Dance
The impact of visibility emerged in heartfelt confessions from viewers. Women shared how seeing someone who looked like them would have changed their dance journeys.
Breaking Barriers on Mainstream TV Shows
Strictly Come Dancing provided a platform that reached beyond dance communities. The show brought a professional dancer to audiences who rarely saw Black African women celebrated.
People felt empowered to embrace their authentic selves. The representation carried multiple layers—not just women or Black women, but specifically African women navigating European entertainment.
Ballroom’s traditional beauty standards favored thin bodies without natural curves. Winning competitors typically lacked the hips and features common among women of African descent.
Role Model for Women and African Representation
This awareness began subconsciously at age four. Young children absorb messages about who belongs in certain spaces.
Her sister Motsi Mabuse created parallel visibility as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing since 2019. Together, they demonstrated that African women belong as authorities in traditionally white spaces.
The Mabuse sisters proved representation creates tangible change. Women messaged that seeing someone like them would have kept them dancing.
| Platform | Role | Significance | Audience Reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strictly Come Dancing | Professional Dancer | First Black African female pro to win | 8+ million viewers weekly |
| Strictly Come Dancing | Judge (Sister Motsi) | African female authority figure | Same mainstream platform |
| German Version | Judge (Sister Motsi) | International representation | European audiences since 2011 |
| Dance Competitions | Competitor Tradition | Historically limited diversity | Industry standards influence |
This visibility continues reading as an ongoing conversation about inclusion. The journey shows how one person’s presence can rewrite entire narratives.
Home and Personal Life: A Blend of Art and Sanctuary
After years of bright lights and loud stages, the dancer found refuge in a quiet village home. This 18th-century Berkshire house serves as a deliberate antidote to sensory overload.
Creating a Space that Reflects Her Personality
The couple moved from London specifically for their daughter’s future. Better schools and environment motivated this family decision.
Each room follows a strict neutral palette of grey and beige. This creates visual calm after chaotic work days.
Her bedroom remains the favorite retreat. She constantly rearranges this personal space for maximum comfort.
The bedside table holds practical items reflecting motherhood. A humidifier, toddler medicine, and large water bottle sit ready.
Personal Style, Decor, and Meaningful Traditions
Only one room breaks the neutral rule—her daughter’s safari-themed space. Animal stickers and colorful toys create joyful stimulation.
This design approach connects to her South Africa childhood experience. Her mother loved bold patterns, but she prefers muted tones as an adult.
Diptyque candles replace flowers throughout the house due to allergies. They scent each room with subtle fragrance.
Outside windows reveal forest views with birds and squirrels. This natural scenery recalls her outdoor upbringing.
The Louis Vuitton bag from Paris symbolizes their journey from struggling dancers to established professionals. It represents hard-earned success.
Celebrity Highlights: TV Appearances and Cultural Moments
Last year marked a significant television evolution with appearances on reality competitions and entertainment programs. The professional dancer expanded her presence beyond the dance floor.
Experiences on I’m a Celebrity and Dancing on Ice
Her fourth-place finish on I’m a Celebrity represented a deliberate return to adventure after motherhood. She entered the jungle seeking the “fun Oti” without makeup or performance armor.
In a raw confessional, she described the neonatal intensive care experience to Reverend Richard Cole. “It’s hell to be in the hospital,” she shared about her daughter’s premature birth.
The baby spent six weeks in hospital care. Even in survival conditions, she naturally taught campmates dance moves.
Simultaneously, she reprised her role as a judge on Dancing on Ice. This position applied her dance expertise to skating, expanding her television authority.
Stories Behind the Scenes on Popular Shows
Her judging career began in 2019 on The Greatest Dancer alongside Cheryl Cole. This transitioned her from competitor to authority figure.
She appeared on various entertainment shows including baking competitions and game shows. These appearances built her brand beyond Strictly Come Dancing.
Her sister Motsi serves as a judge on the same dance series, creating a unique family dynamic on television.
The dancer also announced her debut romance novel, Slow Burn. This creative expansion proves her storytelling ambition extends beyond choreography.
Business Ventures and Future Dance Endeavors
The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep, with ventures spanning from dance education to fashion and literature. These business moves create financial independence beyond television work.
Expanding Through a Dance Studio and Tours
Running their own dance studio provides a steady teaching platform. This business venture with her husband generates revenue year-round.
The Viva Carnival tour represents a major creative project opening this summer. This new dance production explores global festivals from Brazil’s carnival to Glastonbury. She would love to create her own dance carnival that celebrates where she’s going.
New Projects, Romance Novel, and Entrepreneurial Spirit
Her debut romance novel, Slow Burn, publishes the following year. This unexpected expansion into writing shows her storytelling ambition.
Other ventures include a Sainsbury’s clothing line and the eBay List to £1K Spring Cleaning Challenge. For the challenge, she created a list of items including Strictly dresses and baby gear.
This business approach reflects the South African entrepreneurial spirit she discussed over the years. She believes in creating opportunities rather than waiting for them.
Wrapping Up: Reflections on a Dance Legacy
At the heart of this story lies a simple truth: movement creates meaning. For Oti Mabuse, dance provided everything—career, family, identity. It remains the through-line connecting each chapter of her extraordinary journey.
She describes dance as a dopamine hit that erases frustrations. In those moments on stage or in the studio, nothing wrong with the world exists. This joy connects her with people across cultures and generations.
Motherhood transformed her relationship with her body over the past year. She now appreciates what it created rather than criticizing its changes. This shift reflects ongoing work to unlearn toxic messages from younger years.
Her multiple ventures build a legacy her daughter can understand one day. The story represents a generation of women who created their own opportunities. Dance gave her everything and remains her language for connecting with people.
