Oti Mabuse
Otlile "Oti" Mabuse is a South African professional dancer, talent show judge, presenter, and Latin dance champion currently based in the United Kingdom.
She is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020, and its German equivalent, Let's Dance. She was a Dance Captain on The Greatest Dancer. Between 2021 and 2022, she was a panellist on The Masked Dancer, and has served as a judge on Dancing on Ice from 2022 until 2025. In 2026, Mabuse is set to join the judging panel for the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars.
Early life and education
Mabuse was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and studied civil engineering at university before embarking on a career in professional ballroom dancing. Her elder sister, Motsi Mabuse, is also a professional ballroom dancer. Oti has participated in the German series Let's Dance as a professional dancer, after which she joined Britain's Strictly Come Dancing.Dancing career
Mabuse won the South African Latin American Championship eight times, after which she moved to Germany to broaden her dancing horizons. She has earned a number of titles in her dancing career; including:- third place in World Cup Freestyle Latin in 2014,
- second place European Championship Latin in 2014 and
- first place in German Championship PD Freestyle Latin.
''Let's Dance''
In 2015, Mabuse appeared as a professional dancer on the eighth season of Let's Dance, the German version of Strictly Come Dancing.She was partnered with singer Daniel Küblböck. The couple were eliminated in week 9, finishing in sixth place.
In 2016, Mabuse returned as a professional dancer for the ninth season of Let's Dance. She was partnered with television presenter Niels Ruf. The couple were the first to be eliminated in week 2, leaving in 14th place.
''Strictly Come Dancing''
Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
| American Smooth | Danny Mac Kelvin Fletcher | 39 | Graeme Swann | 15 |
| Cha Cha Cha | Kelvin Fletcher | 33 | Bill Bailey Jonnie Peacock | 20 |
| Charleston | Danny Mac | 40 | Graeme Swann | 31 |
| Couple's Choice | Bill Bailey | 39 | Ugo Monye | 31 |
| Foxtrot | Danny Mac | 30 | Jonnie Peacock | 21 |
| Argentine tango | Danny Mac | 38 | Bill Bailey | 32 |
| Jive | Kelvin Fletcher | 39 | Anthony Ogogo | 21 |
| Paso Doble | Kelvin Fletcher | 37 | Anthony Ogogo | 19 |
| Quickstep | Kelvin Fletcher | 40 | Graeme Swann | 24 |
| Rumba | Kelvin Fletcher | 39 | Ugo Monye | 20 |
| Salsa | Danny Mac | 37 | Jonnie Peacock | 27 |
| Samba | Danny Mac | 40 | Ugo Monye | 18 |
| Tango | Danny Mac | 38 | Jonnie Peacock | 26 |
| Viennese Waltz | Kelvin Fletcher | 34 | Danny Mac | 32 |
| Waltz | Graeme Swann | 29 | Anthony Ogogo | 19 |
| Showdance | Bill Bailey Danny Mac Kelvin Fletcher | 40 | - | - |
In 2015, Mabuse appeared as a professional on the Strictly [Come Dancing (series 13)|13th series] of Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with Olympic boxer Anthony Ogogo. The couple were eliminated in Week 3, finishing in 14th place. That year, she also participated in the Children in Need and Christmas Specials|Christmas] specials of the show, in which she partnered with actors Jack Ashton and Tom Chambers respectively.
In 2016, Mabuse was partnered with former Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac for the show's 14th series. The couple reached the final and finished as runners-up. For the show's 15th series in 2017, she was partnered with Paralympic sprinter Jonnie Peacock, they were eliminated in Week 9 in eighth place. She was paired with England cricketer Graeme Swann for the show's 16th series, they were eliminated in Week 10 in seventh place.
In 2019, for her fifth stint on the show, she was partnered with former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, who replaced her originally announced partner, Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing, who had to withdraw from the show after sustaining a foot injury when dancing on the launch show. They went on to become the winners of the series. Laing was confirmed as a contestant for the 18th series the following year, but was re-partnered with fellow professional Karen Hauer, in which Mabuse was partnered with comedian and actor, Bill Bailey, reaching the final and became series winners, with Mabuse becoming the second pro to win the show twice and the only pro to win twice in succession.
On 18 April 2021, two weeks after being unveiled as part of 19th series of the show, Mabuse revealed that this would most likely be her last. On 22 February 2022, Mabuse confirmed she was leaving the show after seven years.
| Series | Partner | Place | Average Score |
| 13 | Anthony Ogogo | 14th | 19.7 |
| 14 | Danny Mac | 2nd | 36.6 |
| 15 | Jonnie Peacock | 8th | 25.8 |
| 16 | Graeme Swann | 7th | 26.0 |
| 17 | Kelvin Fletcher | 1st | 36.4 |
| 18 | Bill Bailey | 1st | 33.4 |
| 19 | Ugo Monye | 11th | 23.5 |
Series 15: with celebrity partner [Jonnie Peacock]
# Bruno Tonioli was absent and there was no guest judge.Series 16: with celebrity partner [Graeme Swann]
# Bruno Tonioli was absent; Alfonso Ribeiro was guest judge.Series 17: with celebrity partner [Kelvin Fletcher]
Mabuse was originally paired with Jamie Laing, however he had to pull out due to a foot injury whilst the recording of the launch show. Laing was replaced with Kelvin Fletcher, just before the start of the live shows.# Bruno Tonioli was absent; Alfonso Ribeiro was guest judge.
Series 18: with celebrity partner [Bill Bailey]
# Motsi Mabuse was absent; Anton du Beke was guest judge.Dance tours and other professional engagements
In 2017, Mabuse took part in the national Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour with her celebrity partner Danny Mac. They were voted the winners of more individual shows than any other couple by the audience. In August 2017, Mabuse and Ian Waite announced a 60-date 2018 UK tour An Audience With. She was also a contestant on an episode of Tipping Point: Lucky Stars. In October 2018, Mabuse announced she would be teaching at Donahey's Dancing with the Stars Weekends in 2019.In 2019, Mabuse became a dance captain on The Greatest Dancer, alongside Cheryl, Matthew Morrison and later Todrick Hall. The same year, she was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef and was nominated for BroadwayWorld UK Awards - Best Choreography of a New Production of a Play or Musical for her work Kiss Me, Kate at the Watermill Theatre. In 2020, Mabuse became the new host of Boogie Beebies. She was also a contestant on that year's Christmas Special of Michael McIntyre's The Wheel.
In March 2021, it was announced that Mabuse would be a panelist on a brand new ITV show, The Masked Dancer UK, a spin-off of The Masked Singer UK, replacing Rita Ora's position in the original show. In December 2021, it was confirmed that Mabuse would replace John Barrowman on the judging panel of Dancing on Ice.
From April 2022, Mabuse worked as the choreographer of the UK and Ireland production of The Cher Show, which toured the country.
In November 2024, Mabuse appeared as a contestant on the twenty-fourth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. She was the 9th celebrity to leave the camp, finishing at 4th place, just missing out on the final 3.
In September 2025, Mabuse announced she was to appear at "Dancing With The Stars Weekends" 2026.
Personal life
In 2014, Mabuse married Romanian dancer Marius Iepure, whom she met in Germany. they were living in London, after moving there from Germany in 2015. On Christmas Day 2023, Mabuse and Iepure announced the arrival of their first child, a daughter.Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
| 2015–2016 | Let's Dance | Herself | Professional dancer | |
| 2015–2021 | Strictly Come Dancing | Herself | Professional dancer | |
| 2019–2020 | The Greatest Dancer | Herself | Judge | |
| 2019–2021 | Lorraine | Herself | 7 episodes | |
| 2019–2020 | This Morning | Herself | 4 episodes | |
| 2019 | Celebrity MasterChef | Herself | Contestant | |
| 2020 | Boogie Beebies | Herself | Host | |
| 2020–2021 | Morning Live | Herself | Presenter | |
| 2020 | Michael McIntyre's The Wheel | Herself | Contestant | |
| 2021 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | Herself | 3 episodes | |
| 2021–2022 | The Masked Dancer UK | Herself | Panelist | |
| 2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race UK: "Dragoton" | Herself | Choreographer, guest judge | |
| 2022–2025 | Dancing on Ice | Herself | Judge | |
| 2022 | Romeo & Duet | Herself | Presenter | |
| 2022 | Oti Mabuse: My South Africa | Herself | BBC One documentary | |
| 2022 | Olivier Awards | Guest Presenter | 2022 Ceremony | |
| 2022 | The Big Narstie Show | Guest | Series 5 Episode 1 | |
| 2022 | Celebrity Catchphrase Christmas Special | Herself | Contestant | |
| 2022 | On Christmas Night | Presenter | Story of the first Christmas from the Gospel according to St Luke | |
| 2023 | DNA Journey | Herself | With Motsi Mabuse | |
| 2023 | Oti Mabuse's Breakfast Show | Presenter | ||
| 2023 | Big Brother: Late & Live | Herself | Celebrity Houseguest | |
| 2024 | Celebrity Big Brother: Late & Live | Herself | Celebrity Houseguest | |
| 2024 | The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer | Herself / contestant | One episode | |
| 2024 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! | Herself | Contestant; series 24 | |
| 2025-Present | Loose Women | Herself | Panellist | |
| 2025 | You Bet! | Herself | Contestant | |
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