Fun-loving, commanding the spotlight, a natural-born leader – Oti Mabuse inhabits all the traits of an exemplary Leo. Here, we get to know what she’s really like when the cameras cut
WORDS | Daniella Gray
celeb interview
O ti Mabuse is a woman in high demand. She was recently back on our screens for the second series of ITV’s The Masked Singer (the musical-mystery competition show where celebrities sing each week under the guise of a mask) and she’ll soon be gearing up for another judging stint in the latest instalment of Dancing on Ice that airs in January. Between that, Mabuse has also been rehearsing for a musical flashmob at Westfield White City shopping centre to promote the launch of the Disney+ film Disenchanted. Zooming me from the kitchen of her stylish London pad, the former Strictly professional has a short window to chat before heading off to the gym for her penultimate workout of the week to come home, have dinner, go to bed and do it all over again...
SHOWING UP
It may come as no surprise that with all of Oti’s commitments and demands, routine doesn’t exactly factor into her vocabulary. “Yeah, that doesn’t work for me,” she laughs. “I don’t have a nine to five and every day is different – sometimes it starts at 11am and finishes at 11pm or if I’m doing a guest appearance, I’ll start at four in the afternoon and that’ll go on really late.” The 32-year-old finds calm in the chaos by having structure in her workouts. Earlier this year, Oti tells me that she took on a new personal trainer (@leanne_fitnessuk) who has her exercising six times a week. Four days are dedicated to heavy lifting and the other two for cardio such as the elliptical machine or stair master – she grimaces at the last one.
Part of the programme includes meal plans, evaluations and weigh-ins so she can track her progress, but Oti doesn’t partake in exercise for the aesthetic gains and rather, strives towards the goal of simply feeling good in body and mind. “I’m not dancing as much anymore and I’m also in my 30s now, so I had to let go of thinking that my body was going to stay the same compared to when I was training a lot and in my 20s. I never thought I’d say this, but I love going to the gym now. There are certain targets I’ve set for myself, but honestly, the goal is to be stronger; have more energy; be more focused and just feel good. A workout is the one thing I’ll never regret, even when I’m so tired and really don’t feel like it, I know I’ll feel so good after.”
Food is also another piece of the puzzle to Oti’s balanced energy. Overindulgence was once the dancer’s
