![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/20\/940x\/secondary\/Inside-the-life-of-Motsi-Mabuse-from-Strictly-success-to-private-home-life-5036309.jpg?r=1698424066524\")
<\/p>\nStrictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse has been on the panel since 2019 alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.<\/p>\n
Motsi first took over from Darcey Bussell and certainly was the right choice to fill her iconic shoes.<\/p>\n
During the latest series of Strictly, Motsi has been struggling to find flaws in many of the dancer’s performances, with the competition being so strong.<\/p>\n
This year she was the first judge to give out a score of 10, leading the rest of the judges to follow suit.<\/p>\n
Express.co.uk has looked back through Motsi’s life from her dramatic career change to her very private family life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Motsi was born in Mankwe, which is now in South Africa, and her family moved to Pretoria when she was five.<\/p>\n
After finding a passion for dancing when she was younger, she began training while studying at the University of Pretoria.<\/p>\n
She wen on to compete in national championships and won the German Latin dance contest with her now-husband in 2013.<\/p>\n
Away from dancing, Motsi began her journalism career and appeared on the ARD broadcasting team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n
She also served as a judge on various German TV talent shows, including Das Supertalent in 2011.<\/p>\n
Motsi later became a professional dancer on Germany’s Let’s Dance, before being recruited on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.<\/p>\n
Despite her passion for dancing, Motsi almost never became a dancer as her family expected her to become a lawyer and join the family firm.<\/p>\n
However, she instead pursued life as a dancer, redirecting her career goals to centre around it, and in 1998 it paid off as she was the runner-up in the national championships.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/20\/940x\/secondary\/Inside-the-life-of-Motsi-Mabuse-from-Strictly-success-to-private-home-life-5036308.jpg?r=1698424066602\")
<\/p>\n
When she first was recruited for her judging role on the BBC One hit dancing show Strictly, Motsi was travelling back and forth from Germany to continue competing and judging.<\/p>\n
The star recently opened up about how she coped going between the two countries while also maintaining her career.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the Mirror she said: \u201cThe most important thing in life is my family. I am really grateful for Strictly and the exciting opportunities it throws up, but family will always come first.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy biggest cheerleader is\u2026 my husband. He is so supportive and both he and our daughter are always waiting for me when I get home from filming with huge grins on their faces.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/20\/940x\/secondary\/Inside-the-life-of-Motsi-Mabuse-from-Strictly-success-to-private-home-life-5036310.jpg?r=1698424066674\")
<\/p>\n
Motsi isn’t the only one in the family who has a passion for dancing as both her sisters also followed suit.<\/p>\n
Her younger sister Oti Mabuse was a professional dancer on Strictly after joining in 2015 and took home the Glitterball Trophy in 2020 with Bill Bailey.<\/p>\n
After a seven-year run, Oti decided to step away from Strictly and went on to host her own show Romeo and Duet.<\/p>\n
Motsi and Oti also have their other sister Phemelo who has swerved fame even though she is said to be the best dancer of the lot.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/20\/940x\/secondary\/Inside-the-life-of-Motsi-Mabuse-from-Strictly-success-to-private-home-life-5036307.jpg?r=1698424066752\")
<\/p>\n
Whilst Motsi has found fame on Strictly Come Dancing, she has kept her family and home life private.<\/p>\n
The star shares her three-year-old daughter with former dance partner and husband Evgenij Voznyuk, but they have never shared her name on social media.<\/p>\n
Evgenij is Motsi’s second husband as she was previously married to German dancer Timo Kulczak, whom she met at the Blackpool Open Dance Championships.<\/p>\n
The pair married in 2003 before divorcing after 11 years of marriage in 2014, before she went on to marry Evgenij in June 2017.<\/p>\n
Evgenij is also not one for social media, with his Instagram set to private with only a few hundred followers.<\/p>\n
Motsi shared a rare snap of the two out and about earlier this year, with Evgenij captioning the post: “On this day 4 years ago, The beginning of the rest of our lives. 4 years ago we Started this journey.<\/p>\n
“It’s been one hell of a ride but we are still here! Happy birthday @motsimabuse_taunustanzschule !!! This is also a an official countdown.<\/p>\n
“P.s Who’s permission do you need to dream big ???? #nevergiveup #lawofattraction #visualization.” (sic)<\/p>\n