Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse has openly shared the details of her remarkable physical transformation, revealing she has dropped several dress sizes following the birth of her child.
The 35-year-old dancer, also known for her time on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, explained that her weight increased after she left the BBC dance show and became a mother.
The Turning Point
In a candid social media post made last year, Oti described her journey as "one of the toughest but most beautiful experiences of my life." She took to TikTok to explain the life changes she implemented, which led to her dropping from a size 18 to a size 10.
She confessed to now feeling "stronger, healthier, and more alive" as a result of her efforts. The decision to focus on her health was made ahead of her latest tour, with Oti choosing to set personal goals rather than obsess over the number on the scales.
A Health-Focused Journey
Oti clarified that her motivation was never about "getting skinny." Instead, she emphasised that the process was about "gaining strength, confidence, and discipline in a way that feels sustainable and true to me."
A significant health factor was her experience with gestational diabetes during pregnancy, which left her pre-diabetic. This required her to be highly mindful of her health, prompting a complete overhaul of her approach to food, physical movement, and her own body image.
She was frank about the challenges, stating: "Changing lifelong habits, trying new foods, pushing my body in ways I never have before— it's been hard work." However, she celebrated the results, not just in her physical shape, but in how her body feels, calling it a "win every day."
Life Beyond the Weight Loss
This personal health journey coincided with her 22-day stint in the I'm A Celebrity jungle, where she just missed out on a place in the final. Upon her eviction, she told hosts Ant and Dec that her goal in the camp was to "focus and get the job done," a mindset that echoes her disciplined approach to her fitness.
Oti's career on Strictly was hugely successful; she was crowned champion twice, first with actor Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and again with comedian Bill Bailey in 2020. She left the show in 2021 after dancing with rugby player Ugo Monye and now serves as a judge on ITV's Dancing On Ice.
While she is proud of her progress, Oti affirmed that her weight loss journey is ongoing and that she is proud of her body "at whatever size." She expressed a hope that every woman can find a similar sense of pride in their own skin.
