Dancing With The Stars' newest Head Judge, Oti Mabuse, and her love Marius Iepure may have been fierce competitors on screen, but at home they are each other's biggest supporters.
The pro-dancers take every opportunity to gush over each other, despite keeping relatively private about their personal lives. Marius will likely be by her side, supporting her while she makes the move across the Irish Sea to join the judging panel.
So, as Oti is set to appear on our screens on RTÉ as Head Judge, Loraine Barry's replacement, just how did she meet her other half? Here's what we know...
How they met
Oti's older sister, Strictly judge Motsi, played matchmaker in setting the pair up. She suggested him as a potential dance partner after she moved from South Africa to Germany.
Marius beat out the other contenders and the pair went on to win the German National Show Dance Championships.
They continued to dance together, finishing second at the World Latin Championship and winning over each other's hearts. What could be more romantic than doing the samba with your partner?!
Tying the knot
Oti is private about her personal life and has shared very little about her wedding. They actually had two ceremonies, with the pair initially tying the knot in a very private ceremony in 2014.
They celebrated their first special day in the Danish countryside, a country they had never visited before. A few years later, Oti's parents wanted the couple to have a ceremony at home in her native South Africa, so that's exactly what the couple did.
Oti was just 23 when she first married her husband, but despite her youth, says it happened 'at the perfect time.'
Family life
Oti delighted fans when she announced that the couple were expecting their first child on ITV's Breakfast Show in 2023, having been very vocal about wanting to start a family in the past.
The couple welcomed their 'miracle baby' shortly after in October 2023. Their daughter was born 'very prematurely' and spent the first six weeks of her life in 'critical' condition in hospital.
The now-healthy child battled infections and had to be kept in an incubator in the NICU before she was eventually given the all-clear and they could take her home just before Christmas.
The couple got their little girl christened in July, as they 'are committed to raising her to be a kind and compassionate human being with a strong faith.'
However, the special day took a turn for the worse when the then-eight-month-old came down with a fever.
'The evening took a dramatic turn when she came down with a fever, but we’re keeping a close eye on her,' Oti continued. 'At eight months, she’s growing and changing so much every day!'
'We laughed, cried, and celebrated together, cherishing every moment. Thank you to everyone who made this day so special,' she wrote.
While the couple often shares sweet snaps of their child, they have decided to keep her name a secret.
Working life
Oti has been announced as Dancing With The Stars' newest Head Judge, replacing Loraine Barry. The Strictly Come Dancing royalty will join the judging panel, alongside Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian, and Karen Byrne in 2026.
In a statement, she said: 'I'm so excited to be joining Dancing with the Stars Ireland as Head Judge! Dance has been such a huge part of my life, and to now have the opportunity to celebrate the incredible talent and passion that Ireland has to offer is such a joy.
'As someone who has been on both sides of the judging table, from performing as a professional dancer on Strictly to sitting on panels on different shows, I know just how much heart, hard work, and magic go into every performance and how much this show means to everyone.
'Irish audiences have always been so warm, supportive and fun-loving, so I already know we’re going to have the most amazing time together. I'm looking forward to having the best time with my fellow judges and can't wait to bring my love for performance and, of course, a whole lot of sparkle, to this fabulous show,' she said.
