Strictly a millionaire? What's next for golden girl Oti Mabuse?
Strictly star Oti Mabuse shocked fans when she sensationally quit the show that made her famous. But industry experts predict leaving the Strictly dance floor could be a lucrative move for South African-born Mabuse who is already at the top of her game.
In an emotional message on her Instagram, Mabuse said that it was “never easy to say goodbye”, but that she had had an incredible time on the show – including “lifting the glitter ball twice and having the best journey with all my celebrities”.
Mabuse created some of Strictly's steamiest and most memorable routines. Who can forget her ground-breaking performance of Rapper's Delight with comedian and surprise Strictly winner Bill Bailey?
Watch now: Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood on Oti Mabuse's exit
But even before she called time on Strictly, Mabuse's sparkling personality and natural manner was in huge demand as a judge, presenter and choreographer. Currently a judge on rival show Dancing on Ice, she was previously a dance captain on The Greatest Dancer alongside Cheryl and Matthew Morrison, and later a panellist on The Masked Dancer UK.
Industry experts are predicting leaving Strictly could be her best move yet – both professionally and financially.
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Kirsty Milner of Stella Media has been a showbiz agent for more than 20 years, having worked with the likes of Dermot O’Leary and Sir Bruce Forsyth.
She says Post-Strictly Mabuse is going to be an even bigger star with earning potential to match.
“I think there will be big brand deals coming Oti's way," says Milner, "things like beauty products and feel-good, wellbeing brands. She is such a good role model and the real money is in the brand deals rather than in TV."
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And Milner predicts that Mabuse's TV career could go stellar as well.
"Oti is such a natural and is so good on screen too, she could really go to any show and I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw her hosting Strictly one day," she explains.
“I think she wants to do more and we could see her on the This Morning sofa once she has some more presenting experience under her belt.
“I also think we could see her collaborating with other celebrities or famous musicians which would be really exciting. I think TV needs someone like Oti and we can all relate to her. She always has us smiling and brings such positive energy. Plus she has been on our screens for so long we would know if that was a mask.
"She has done South Africa, Germany and the UK. Who knows, she may want to do America?
“I think her earning potential is massive. She's going to be a very rich woman in a few years. If I was her agent I would be very, very happy right now.”
One thing's for sure, we're going to be seeing a lot more of Mabuse and her winning smile in the months to come.
