It’s September, which can only mean one thing, Strictly Come Dancing is back Back BACK – and so are the judges.
Don’t get us wrong, we love a bit of Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke, but we have to admit that our favourite judge is the ever-fabulous Motsi Mabuse. She just brightens up the show, and that’s saying something considering 90 per cent of the dance outfits are covered in sequins.
Motsi’s been a part of the Strictly judging panel since 2019, but she's also got a busy life outside of the show – so let’s get to know her, shall we?
When did Motsi Mabuse join Strictly?
Motsi joined the Strictly judging panel in 2019, replacing Darcey Bussell.
Appearing on a New Year's Eve special of The Graham Norton show in December 2019, Motsi admitted she was over the moon when she got the job and even suggested that she knew she was going to get the job before she was offered it.
She said, “When Darcey left I was in Germany and called my sister to ask what was happening and we were joking that they should call me.
“And then they did! At first, I was like, ‘I am so honoured, this is such amazing news,’ and then I was like, ‘I don’t want to do it, this is too much,’ then I was like, ‘I want to do it.’"
“Then, when they called me again and told me I was still in the race, I asked them to send me a text and not call again because I couldn’t handle the pressure.
“They didn’t send a text, they actually came and said, ‘Welcome to the BBC’."
Who is Motsi Mabuse's husband?
Motsi married her former dance partner Evgenij Voznyuk, who is originally from Ukraine, in 2017. They first got together in 2015, a year after she announced she was divorcing her first husband Timo Kulczak after 11 years of marriage.
Speaking about how her relationship with Evgenij started, she explained, "We stopped [dancing professionally] and it was then that we realised that we wanted to do more than just dance together."
Earlier this year it was reported that Motsi is being sued by her first husband Timo after branding him "controlling" in her memoir, Finding My Own Rhythym, which was released last year. In the book, Motsi claimed that Timo banned her from having a baby, limited her access to money and dictated what she ate - all of which he strongly denies.
Meanwhile, in February 2023, Motsi and Evgenij renewed their vows in the Maldives.
Does Motsi Mabuse have children?
Motsi shares a four-year-old daughter with her husband Evgenij, although the couple keep their daughter out of the public eye and have never publicly shared her name.
Speaking about her family, Motsi previously told Yours, "The most important thing in my life is my family. 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.”
Is Motsi Mabuse related to Oti Mabuse?
Motsi's younger sister is former Strictly pro turned Dancing on Ice judge Oti Mabuse. They also have a middle sister called Phemelo, who has previously appeared alongside them on Celebrity Gogglebox.
Is Motsi Mabuse a dancer?
Motsi first started dancing in the late 90s, becoming a runner-up in the South African national championships in 1998. She later rose to fame as a dance on Let's Dance - Germany's answer to Strictly - in 2017. Four years later, she became a judge on the show.
Motsi also runs a dance school in Germany with her husband.
How old is Motsi Mabuse?
Motsi was born on 11 April 1981, so she's currently 42 years old.
Where is Motsi Mabuse from?
She's originally from Pretoria in South Africa, although she now lives in South Africa. When she films Strictly, Motsi jets to the UK from Germany every Friday before returning home to her family after the results show.
What is Motsi Mabuse's Instagram?
You can find Motsi on Instagram at @motsimabuse.