Oti Mabuse is a South African dancer, television presenter, talent-show judge, and author. She is best known in the United Kingdom for her role as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, where she made history by winning the series twice in a row.
Born Otlile Mabuse on 8 August 1990 in Pretoria, South Africa, she began dancing as a child alongside her sisters. Before turning to dance professionally, she studied civil engineering at university. Her official website describes her as the youngest daughter of a lawyer and a teacher.
Beyond the ballroom, Oti has expanded her career into judging, authorship, and business. She is married to Marius Iepure, a fellow dancer and choreographer, and the couple have one daughter.
Who Is Oti Mabuse?
- Full Name: Otlile Mabuse
- Born: 8 August 1990, Pretoria, South Africa
- Profession: Professional dancer, TV judge, presenter, author
- Famous For: Strictly Come Dancing professional, head judge on Dancing with the Stars Ireland, author of Slow Burn
- Family: Sister Motsi Mabuse (dancer/judge), husband Marius Lepure, one daughter
- Social: Instagram @otimabuse, Facebook @OtiMabuse
Key Insights
- Oti Mabuse is an eight-time South African Latin American Champion and joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2015.
- She co-owns the Oti & Marius Dance Studio with her husband Marius Lepure.
- Her book Slow Burn was released in 2024, blending memoir and lifestyle advice.
- She has one daughter and is active on social media, often sharing family moments.
- Oti’s sister Motsi Mabuse is a fellow professional dancer and judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
- She won Strictly Come Dancing in 2019 with Kelvin Fletcher and again in 2020 with Bill Bailey, making her the first professional to win the show two years in a row.
Snapshot Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 8 August 1990 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Home Country | UK (based in London) |
| Known For | Strictly Come Dancing (2015-2021), head judge on Dancing with the Stars Ireland |
| Spouse | Marius Lepure |
| Children | One daughter (name not publicly confirmed) |
| Sibling | Motsi Mabuse (older sister) |
| Book | Slow Burn (2024) |
| Current Roles | Judge on Dancing with the Stars Ireland, Co-owner of Oti & Marius Dance Studio |
Oti Mabuse’s Family: Husband, Daughter, and Sister
Oti Mabuse is married to Marius Iepure, also known as Marius Lepure, a professional dancer and choreographer. According to her official website and other sources, they met through dance in Germany after she moved there in 2012. The couple co-own the Oti & Marius Dance Studio.
Some sources indicate that Oti and Marius have one daughter, born on 25 December 2023. This information comes from later biographical entries and has not been widely publicized by Oti herself in earlier official profiles. The child’s name has not been publicly confirmed.
Oti’s older sister, Motsi Mabuse, is also a professional dancer and serves as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. The two sisters have a long history of dancing together, including competing internationally. Oti also has another sister named Phemelo Mabuse, mentioned in BBC material and other biographical sources.
One source references a half-brother named Neo who is deceased, but this detail comes from less authoritative reporting and is not confirmed by Oti or her official channels.
Oti Mabuse’s family includes her husband Marius Lepure, her daughter (born December 2023), and her sisters Motsi and Phemelo. Her sister Motsi is a well-known judge on Strictly Come Dancing, creating a unique sibling presence in the UK dance world.
Oti Mabuse’s Career Highlights and Book
Strictly Come Dancing Career
Oti joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2015 and remained on the show through 2021. She won the series in 2019 with Kelvin Fletcher and again in 2020 with Bill Bailey, becoming the first professional dancer to win the show two years in a row. BBC profiles describe her as one of the show’s standout professionals.
Other Career Highlights
Before her television fame, Oti built an impressive competitive dance record. She is an eight-time Latin American champion in South Africa and a German Championship PD Freestyle Latin Champion. She has also appeared as a judge or panelist on shows such as The Greatest Dancer, The Masked Dancer, and Dancing on Ice.
In 2022, Oti became the head judge on Dancing with the Stars Ireland. She also co-owns the Oti & Marius Dance Studio with her husband.
Oti Mabuse’s Book
Oti Mabuse is the author of a book titled Slow Burn, released in 2024. The book blends memoir with lifestyle advice, marking a shift into authorship and expanding her personal brand beyond dancing. Details about a potential second book or expanded series have not been confirmed.
Oti Mabuse is the first professional dancer to win Strictly Come Dancing two years in a row (2019 with Kelvin Fletcher, 2020 with Bill Bailey). Her competitive background includes eight South African Latin American Championship titles.
Oti Mabuse’s Weight Journey: Gain and Loss
Public interest in Oti Mabuse’s body changes has led to frequent questions about weight gain or loss. Based on the available information from authoritative sources, Oti has not publicly confirmed any specific reasons for weight changes. Most discussion on this topic comes from fan speculation and social media commentary.
There are no official statements, interviews, or verified reports from Oti Mabuse addressing a weight loss transformation or weight gain directly. Any claims about her weight journey remain unconfirmed by the dancer herself or her representatives.
Information about Oti Mabuse’s weight gain or loss is not supported by official sources. Discussions on this topic are largely based on fan observation and should not be treated as confirmed facts.
Oti Mabuse’s Career Timeline
- 1990 – Born in Pretoria, South Africa
- Early 2010s – Wins multiple South African Latin American Championships
- 2015 – Joins Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer
- 2019 – Wins Strictly Come Dancing with Kelvin Fletcher
- 2020 – Wins Strictly Come Dancing for the second time with Bill Bailey
- 2021 – Retires from Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer
- 2022 – Becomes Head Judge on Dancing with the Stars Ireland
- 2023 – Opens Oti & Marius Dance Studio with husband Marius Lepure
- 2024 – Publishes book Slow Burn
- 2025 – Continues as Dancing with the Stars Ireland judge, active on social media
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Oti Mabuse is married to Marius Lepure. | The exact date of their marriage is not widely publicized. |
| She has one daughter (confirmed on social media). | The daughter’s name has not been publicly confirmed. |
| Her sister is Motsi Mabuse. | Details about a half-brother come from tabloid reporting and are less authoritative. |
| She published a book titled Slow Burn in 2024. | Reasons for any weight gain or loss have not been publicly confirmed by Oti. |
| She was a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing from 2015 to 2021. | Net worth figures are not officially verified. |
What Does Oti Mabuse’s Career Represent?
Oti Mabuse’s rise from Latin champion to mainstream television personality highlights the crossover potential of competitive dance. Her sister Motsi’s prominence, especially as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, has created a unique sibling brand within the dance world.
The release of her book Slow Burn signals a shift into lifestyle and authorship, expanding her personal brand beyond dancing. Weight discussions reflect broader public interest in celebrity body changes, but Oti has not addressed these topics directly in official channels.
Sources and Key Quotes
“Oti Mabuse (born 8 August 1990) is a South African professional dancer, talent show judge, presenter, and Latin dance champion.”
— Wikipedia
“Born in Pretoria in South Africa, Oti began dancing as a young child alongside her sister Motsi.”
— BBC profile
“Oti is best known as a professional dancer on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing since 2015. As an eight-time South African Latin American Champion.”
— ISTD profile
What’s Next for Oti Mabuse?
Oti Mabuse continues to expand her career. She remains head judge on Dancing with the Stars Ireland and is active on social media, where she shares professional updates and personal moments. Her dance studio with husband Marius continues to grow. A potential second book or expanded Slow Burn series has been discussed in entertainment circles, though nothing has been confirmed. If Oti chooses to address public interest in her weight journey, it would likely be through her own channels.
For more on British television personalities, you can read about Paul Hollywood or Jane McDonald.
Is Oti Mabuse married?
Yes, Oti Mabuse is married to Marius Iepure (also known as Marius Lepure), a professional dancer and choreographer.
Does Oti Mabuse have children?
Yes, she has one daughter, born on 25 December 2023. The child’s name has not been publicly confirmed.
Who is Oti Mabuse’s sister?
Her older sister is Motsi Mabuse, who is also a professional dancer and a judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
What book did Oti Mabuse write?
Oti Mabuse published a book titled Slow Burn in 2024, which blends memoir and lifestyle advice.
Did Oti Mabuse win Strictly Come Dancing?
Yes, she won twice: in 2019 with Kelvin Fletcher and in 2020 with Bill Bailey.
Has Oti Mabuse gained or lost weight?
Oti Mabuse has not publicly confirmed any weight gain or loss. Information on this topic is based on fan speculation.
What is Oti Mabuse doing now?
She is the head judge on Dancing with the Stars Ireland and co-owns the Oti & Marius Dance Studio.
How old is Oti Mabuse?
Oti Mabuse was born on 8 August 1990, making her 34 years old as of 2024.
Where is Oti Mabuse from?
She was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and is now based in London, UK.
What is Motsi Mabuse’s connection to Oti?
Motsi Mabuse is Oti’s older sister. Both are professional dancers, and Motsi is a judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
Henry William Morgan Harrison is a staff writer for NorwichWire.co.uk, covering local news, council decisions, business and community stories across Norwich and Norfolk. He works under Editor-in-Chief William Hargreaves and Managing Editor Clara Benson, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.