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Strictly Come Dancing's Motsi Mabuse reveals health routine ahead of BBC show return

Motsi Mabuse had a tough time with her health in 2025 but is feeling better and move positive about life and her body

[Motsi Mabuse in Women's Health]

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Motsi says she has to not be too hard on herself and remember to love her body(Image: Ian Harrison / Womens Health UK)

Motsi Mabuse says she has begun a health routine in the run up to Strictly Come Dancing returning. The judge on the hit BBC show, 45, says she does her best to look good for the cameras, without putting too much pressure on herself.

She said: Ill eat healthily, Ill swim and its not about dieting, its about giving back to my body. I expect so much from my body. I expect it to perform, to be a mum, to work, to travel, to dance. When I step on to the beach, Ill be like, Body, now its your turn.

She added: I have to remind myself to have love for my body. If I see somebody with a six-pack, Ill channel my mind: Youre healthy, youre doing the best you can for your body.

[Motsi Mabuse ]

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Motsi Mabuse is a cover star(Image: Ian Harrison / Womens Health UK)

[Motsi Mabuse ]

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Motsi Mabuse is being healthy ahead of Strictly's return(Image: Ian Harrison / Womens Health UK)

Motsi also opened up about the impact of perimenopause after she started experiencing symptoms last year. She says it has impacted her body and mind in the last 12 months, and she struggled to cope with the changes.

She told Womens Health UK: Id go: Which Motsi am I meeting today? Is it the one whos going to make me cry? Is it the one whos happy? Is it the one who doesnt want to see anyone?.

You wake up every day discovering a new side of yourself. Thats menopauseI noticed a complete shift in my energy levels and I started having pain in my knees.

I had moments when I thought, Im not feeling [okay] in my body, Im not comfortable with myselfI love dancing with my husband, I love moving and I couldnt do that any more. It was making me unhappy.

Struggling Motsi had a health assessment, which showed a range of issues, including high cortisol and inflammation. She said: We did a full-body check-up and my doctor said, Mrs Mabuse, you cant continue like this.

"My parents and grandparents have type 2 diabetes and I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant, and my doctor said, The numbers show that youre at risk. He said, If you want to stay healthy in the long term, we need to make some changes. She also urged other women to get checked out to push to get better healthcare and not feel guilty about doing so.

Motsi added: I have a deep sense of empathy and pain for women because theyre never going to get it right. Women are shamed all their lives and Im not here to shame anyone.

I have very close friends who need the help of GLP-1 and Im not going to make them feel guiltyFor me, this journey was never about becoming smaller. It was about becoming stronger. Thats my message to women: live your life. Do what you need to do to get healthy. You dont owe anyone an explanation.

* The full interview is available in the September issue of Womens Health UK.

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