Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse has revealed the details of her dramatic weight loss transformation, dropping from a size 18 to a size 10. The 35-year-old dancer, who also appeared on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, described the process as 'one of the toughest but most beautiful experiences of my life'.
In a candid social media post, Mabuse explained that her weight gain followed her departure from the dance show and becoming a mother. She was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which made her more mindful of her health. 'After my pregnancy, dealing with gestational diabetes meant I had to be even more mindful of my health, especially being pre-diabetic,' she said.
Mabuse emphasised that her goal was not simply to get skinny, but to gain strength and confidence. 'It hasn't been easy. Changing lifelong habits, trying new foods, pushing my body in ways I never have before— it's been hard work,' she added. She shared her progress on TikTok, setting goals rather than focusing on the scales.
The dancer, whose sister Motsi is a Strictly judge, credited her transformation to sustainable changes in diet and exercise. She said she now feels 'stronger, healthier, and more alive'. Her weight loss coincided with preparations for her latest tour and her stint in the I'm A Celebrity jungle, where she lasted 22 days.
Mabuse won Strictly twice, with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and Bill Bailey in 2020, before leaving the show in 2021. She now serves as a judge on ITV's Dancing On Ice.
