Hailing from Pretoria, South Africa, Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse has been dancing for most of her life. She joined the Strictly judges line-up in 2019 after 13 years on the German version of Strictly called Let's Dance, both as a pro and as a judge.
Motsi Mabuse's dancing career
Although her family were keen for her to become a lawyer and join the family law firm, instead Motsi discovered a love of dance. In 1998, she was runner-up in the national championships and from there she went from strength to strength.
Motsi rose to prominence in the public eye in 2007 when she joined the second season of the German show Let's Dance as a dancer. In 2011, Motsi became a judge on the show.
It was in series 17 of Strictly Come Dancing that Motsi joined as judge, replacing Darcey Bussell. She hasn't looked back since! She sits alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke on the judging panel.
Motsi's sister Oti also appeared in Let's Dance and went on to join Strictly as a professional dancer in 2015 however she recently confirmed that she would be leaving the show.
Who is Motsi Mabuse's husband?
Motsi was first married in 2003 to her dancing partner Timo Kulczak. They were together for 11 years before they split in 2014.
It was then confirmed she was in a relationship with Evgenij Voznyuk who was also her dancing partner. They married in a small legal ceremony before a bigger celebration took place in 2017. The couple run a dance school together in Germany.
Motsi Mabuse's daughter
Motsi and Evgenij have a four-year-old daughter together, whose name has never publicly been shared.
“The most important thing in my life is my family," Motsi told us. "I couldn’t do the Strictly role without my husband and our focus is always to raise our daughter as a healthy, happy, young black girl. Life is about being with the people you love.”
When filming Strictly, Motsi flies to Britain every Friday evening from her home in Germany for Strictly, returning to be with her husband and daughter after the results show. She is determined to set a good example to her daughter when it comes to being a working mum.
“It is important to show you are working,” she explains. “It is good for me to tell my daughter to be independent and to be able to stand on her own two feet.”
Motsi Mabuse's weight loss
We've always thought she looked sensational but Motsi says she has bags more energy now after shedding more than two stone by following Weight Watchers, for which she became an ambassador in 2021. “It was about being a healthier person in all aspects of my life,” explains Motsi as she reflects on her decision to follow a strict eating plan. “We live in such crazy times and being a better person is what it is all about.”
Motsi's new book
We were so excited to find out that Motsi is releasing a book in September. Revealing the news on Instagram she wrote: "Am I excited & humbled to start the week by sharing some exciting news with you! it’s my new book, Finding My Own Rhythm and it’s out this September. The book is my story: A story about growth, a story of resilience, a story of a journey, from growing up in South Africa, competing in dance tournaments around the world and fulfilling my dreams to become a Latin dance champion. This is a book that will make you understand how at times when you feel like."
You can buy Motsi's book below.
