Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse has revealed that perimenopause significantly impacted her well-being, leaving her feeling unhappy and uncomfortable in her own body. The 45-year-old professional dancer, who joined the BBC show in 2019, described experiencing a shift in her energy levels and physical pain, including knee discomfort, at the beginning of last year.
Mabuse shared that the symptoms made her feel disconnected from herself, questioning her identity daily. "Which Motsi am I meeting today?" she recalled asking herself. "Is it the one who's going to make me cry? Is it the one who is 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."
This period of discomfort extended to her personal life, affecting her ability to engage in activities she loves. "I love dancing with my husband, I love moving and I couldn't do that anymore. It was making me unhappy," Mabuse stated. She has been married to fellow dancer Evgenij Voznyuk since 2017, and they have an eight-year-old daughter.
Beyond the emotional and physical discomfort, Mabuse also faced concerning health revelations during a recent doctor's visit. She learned she was at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a condition that runs in her family. The check-up also revealed inflammation and high cortisol levels.
"My parents and grandparents have type 2 diabetes and I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant, and my doctor said: 'If you want to stay healthy in the long term, we need to make some changes,'" she explained.
Mabuse has since become an ambassador for WeightWatchers in 2023 and has lost two stone. However, she noted that the journey was not about weight loss for its own sake, but about becoming stronger. She remains affected by past experiences of being told to lose weight as a young dancer, describing such comments as "the most painful thing you'll ever hear."
Seeking support, Mabuse found that visiting a therapist had a positive impact on her life. This therapeutic support has also influenced her parenting approach, making her more attentive to her daughter's mental well-being. "I take everything [my daughter] says really seriously. I ask her all sorts of questions because I want to know where she mentally," she said. "There's nothing worse than your child having a mental [health] problem and you not being aware of it."