OTI Mabuse is best known for appearing on Strictly Come Dancing but now she has carved out quite the TV career.
Here we take a look at her life, career, family and net worth.
Who is Oti Mabuse?
Oti Mabuse is a professional dancer who rose to fame on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing.
She was born in Pretoria, South Africa, but unlike many Strictly dancers, she did not start her path to professional dancing from a young age.
Oti studied civil engineering at university before embarking on a dancing career, following in the footsteps of her sister Motsi — nine years her senior — who is a professional ballroom dancer.
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She joined Strictly in 2015 for its thirteenth series and was partnered with boxer Anthony Ogogo, but unfortunately did not make it past week three, finishing in 14th.
Luckily my husband again has been an amazing person who has seen the dark days, the days where I’m in the shower crying with my clothes on because it’s so hard and it’s so overwhelming
Oti Mbuse
Oti was then partnered with Hollyoaks hunk Danny Mac, and the duo were the show's standout performers, topping the leaderboard seven times on their way to the finals.
She shocked fans of the programme when she announced her departure after twice winning the glitterball during her seven years on the show.
Oti was fully expected to try for a sensational hat-trick, but she revealed that the pressure of dealing with difficult celebrity contestants on the show often left her struggling to eat properly.
She said: “Luckily my husband again has been an amazing person who has seen the dark days, the days where I’m in the shower crying with my clothes on because it’s so hard and it’s so overwhelming.
“He’s seen me not eat, he’s seen me overeat, he’s seen me struggle with not being able to get the best out of someone.
"He’s seen me having to deal with ‘interesting personalities.’
“So, he’s the person that’s seen the behind the scenes at the point where I’d got to where I was like: ‘I think I’m finished.’ He was like: ‘Yeah’.”
What is Oti Mabuse's net worth?
Oti has appeared on a number of TV shows has amassed an impressive fortune for her on-screen work.
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Strictly professionals reportedly earn a salary of around £50,000 for starring on the show.
She has also appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox with famous faces reportedly earning £2,000 per episode.
Reports of Oti's wealth vary, but not dramatically.
At the bottom end of the scale, ZacJohnson.com puts her net worth at roughly £1.5million, while at the top end TheWikiFeed estimates it to be around £4million.
When did Oti Mabuse win Strictly Come Dancing?
Oti and Kelvin Fletcher were crowned champions of Strictly Come Dancing 2019 — even though she was originally partnered with Jamie Laing.
She and the Made In Chelsea star appeared in the first episode of the series as it was pre-recorded.
But after Jamie injured himself and had to pull out of the competition, Oti was assigned a new partner.
Fortunately for Oti, Kelvin picked up dancing really quickly and helped her win her first Strictly Come Dancing title.
She then became the first professional to defend her Strictly crown, helping comedian Bill Bailey pull off a shock win in 2020.
The then 55-year-old is the oldest celeb to win the competition since it began.
What other shows has Oti appeared on?
Oti had some experience of dancing on the telly prior to Strictly Come Dancing.
She took part in the German version of the BBC One show and moved to Germany to develop her professional career.
Off the back of Strictly, she and dancer Ian Waite announced a new 60-date tour - An Audience With Ian Waite And Oti Mabuse: Rhythm Of The Night - which kicked off in March 2018.
She was also a judge on the BBC talent show The Greatest Dancer and was joined on the panel by Cheryl, Matthew Morrison and Todrick Hall.
And Oti has appeared on Channel 4's Celebrity Googlebox alongside her siblings, as well as on Celebrity Masterchef.
Oti was also a panellist on The Masked Dancer, which she first appeared on in 2021.
Oti decided to step away from Strictly come dancing in 2022 and became a new judge on Dancing on Ice.
She was given the role of host on singing show Romeo And Duet during the same year.
And in 2022 Oti also fronted her own BBC documentary, My South Africa, where she returns to her childhood home to revisit the people and places that made her who she is today.
In 2023 she appeared in episodes of many shows, including Big Zuu's 12 Dishes in 12 Hours, My Life at Christmas, Blankety Blank, Sorry I Didn’t Know, The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice, Saturday Kitchen, The Hit List, The Graham Norton Show, and Saturday Kitchen.
Oti also got her own eponymous ITV show in 2023 — Oti Mabuse's Breakfast Show.
Who is Oti Mabuse's partner and do they have any children?
Oti's husband and professional dance partner, Marius Iepure, was born in August 1982 in Romania.
He first discovered his love of dancing at the age of 12.
Marius participated in the show Let's Dance in 2014 and 2015.
The professional ballroom dancers met in Germany during a dance trial.
They have competed in several competitions together, winning gold at the German National Show Dance Championships.
They also came second at the World Latin Championships.
Marius popped the question to Oti on his birthday in 2014 and they tied the knot the same year.
Oti gave birth to her first child, a baby girl, in December 2023 — but she is yet to reveal her name or face with the public.
On Christmas Day she shared an Instagram post with a photo showing her cradling her baby while Marius held up their dog, and the new parents told fans: "Merry Christmas Wishing you all a wonderful festive season and special memories with loved ones."
Is Oti Mabuse in The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2024?
Yes, Oti is competing in the Great Celebrity Bake Off 2024.
The other contestants are Adam Hills, Danny Dyer, David O'Doherty, Dermot O'Leary, Fern Brady, Gabby Logan, Greg James, Jodie Whittaker, Joe Locke, Leigh Francis, Mel B, Munya Chawawa, Paloma Faith, Richard Coles, Rhod Gilbert, Sarah Cox, Spencer Mathews, Suzi Ruffell and Yinka Bokinni.
Baking hunk Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will be back to judge their efforts and pick the overall winner, with Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding also returning.
When will Oti Mabuse be on Celebrity Big Brother?
Oti will be joining the new series of Celebrity Big Brother as a Late and Live guest.
The new series will grace our screens on Monday, March 2, 2024.
The show will see multiple celebs such as Ekin-Su, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.