Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse has revealed that going through the perimenopause left her feeling unhappy, uncomfortable in her own body, and unable to dance with her husband.
The 45-year-old professional dancer, who joined the BBC flagship ballroom show as a judge in 2019, experienced symptoms starting at the beginning of last year that left her questioning her identity. She suffered a drop in energy levels and joint discomfort in her knees that hindered her ability to move.
"I noticed a complete shift in my energy levels and I started having pain in my knees," Mabuse told Women's Health magazine. "I had moments when I thought, 'I'm not feeling [okay] in my body, I'm not comfortable with myself.' I love dancing with my husband, I love moving and I couldn't do that anymore. It was making me unhappy."
Perimenopause refers to the transitional phase before menopause when fluctuating hormone levels can cause physical pain, fatigue, and mood alterations. For professional dancers whose work relies on physical movement and conditioning, joint pain and low energy can prove particularly challenging.
Identity struggles and emotional toll
Mabuse explained that experiencing perimenopause symptoms left her wondering which version of herself she would wake up to each morning. The physical and emotional shifts created a daily sense of uncertainty over her identity.
"Which Motsi am I meeting today?" she recalled asking herself every morning. "Is it the one who's going to make me cry? Is it the one who's happy? Is it the one who doesn't want to see anyone? You wake up every day discovering a new side of yourself. That's menopause."
Medical check-up and diabetes warning
A recent full-body check-up with her GP delivered a stark medical warning. Doctors discovered that Mabuse was at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while also showing signs of bodily inflammation and high cortisol levels.
Type 2 diabetes runs in Mabuse's family, affecting both her parents and grandparents. The dancer also previously suffered from gestational diabetes during her pregnancy, increasing her long-term vulnerability to the condition.
Recalling the consultation, Mabuse said her doctor warned: "Mrs Mabuse, you can't continue like this." Her GP added: "If you want to stay healthy in the long term, we need to make some changes."
WeightWatchers and dancing career pressures
Following her health review, Mabuse became an ambassador for WeightWatchers in 2023 and has since lost two stone. However, she emphasized that her health journey was focused entirely on building strength rather than reducing her physical size.
"For me, this journey was never about becoming smaller," Mabuse explained. "It was about becoming stronger. Every dancer has had that conversation with a trainer who says, 'lose weight' and it's the most painful thing you'll ever hear."
Competitive ballroom dancing demands high physical fitness and endurance. Dancers often face intense scrutiny over body weight, comments that can linger emotionally long into adulthood.
Therapy and family life
To manage the emotional impact, Mabuse sought professional psychological support. She revealed that visiting a therapist has had a positive impact on her life and transformed how she parents her eight-year-old daughter.
"I take everything [my daughter] says really seriously. I ask her all sorts of questions because I want to know where she mentally," Mabuse said. "There's nothing worse than your child having a mental [health] problem and you not being aware of it."
Mabuse has been married to fellow dancer Evgenij Voznyuk since 2017. Her younger sister, Oti Mabuse, was also a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing from 2015 to 2022.
Return to Strictly Come Dancing
The South African dancer will return to the judging panel next month when the new series of Strictly Come Dancing launches on the BBC. She will judge alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke.
Strictly Come Dancing is a major British television dance contest produced by the BBC, featuring celebrities paired with professional ballroom dancers. The full interview with Mabuse appears in the September issue of Women's Health UK.
