‘I was very conscious of it’: Oti Mabuse reveals her bigger bust made her feel feel ‘different’ and questioning whether she was good enough to continue dancing in the UK
Oti Mabuse has revealed that competing in the UK with a larger chest left her questioning herself if she was still good enough to continue dancing.
The ex Strictly champion released her own lingerie after feeling ‘different’ when she first started dancing in the country.
The former BBC star, 31, appeared on Tuesday’s episode of Loose Women where she said she felt in South Africa all women were more alike.
Opening up: Oti Mabuse has revealed that competing in the UK with a larger chest left her questioning herself if she was still good enough to continue dancing
She appeared on ITV daytime show alongside regular panellists Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan, Denise Welch and Brenda Edwards.
During the group’s conversation, Oti opened up and explained: ‘When I started in South Africa, it wasn’t such a big deal because we were all the same… but when I came here, I noticed that I looked different.
‘Is that wrong? Am I wrong?’
Candid: The dancer previously revealed that during her first ever stint on Strictly, she burst into tears at the dress fitting due to her 28GG boobs
She continued: ‘And you start to judge and that’s what’s happening in your head and you start to doubt yourself.
‘It had to be a look of self-talking.
‘I don’t like to be lied to, so I don’t lie.’
Brave: The dancer previously revealed that during her first ever stint on Strictly, she burst into tears at the dress fitting due to her 28GG boobs
It’s not the first time the dance pro has spoken candidly about her body issues.
The dancer previously revealed that during her first ever stint on Strictly, she burst into tears at the dress fitting due to her 28GG boobs.
She said in an interview with Lorraine in 2018: ‘I remember fitting my first bra and I was crying. I was like, this looks so bad and I look so massive compared to the other girls.
Catching up: She appeared on ITV daytime show alongside regular panellists Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan, Denise Welch and Brenda Edwards
‘Nobody picked on me for it and no one discriminated against me for it and nobody said anything in a negative way and I think that helped me and my self esteem and my nerves about being out in a bra with sequins on.’
Oti revealed that as a child, she would cover up with baggy tops – but once she slipped into her sequinned number on Strictly, there was no hiding.
She added: ‘All my family has always had big boobs. I was hitting puberty way before other girls were.’
Aspiring star: The dancer reflected on her Strictly journey also on Tuesday’s episode as the hit show
Back in February, the Romeo & Duet host shocked fans when she announced that she would be leaving Strictly after seven years as a professional dancer.
Oti won the show with Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and comedian Bob Bailey in 2020.
However, leaving on a high – the TV star said going out on a high left her ready for a ‘new challenge’.
She explained: ‘I was on Strictly for seven years and it was such a big part of my career. I did feel like, ‘OK, it’s time to move on.”
She added: ‘I think also, it was wanting a new challenge’.
Stunner: The former BBC star, 31, appeared on Tuesday’s episode of Loose Women looking radiant in a red jumpsuit