Strictly’s Oti Mabuse wipes away tears as she’s surprised with special family call on her 30th birthday
STRICTLY’S Oti Mabuse filled her home with balloons and enjoyed emotional Zoom calls with her family to celebrate her 30th birthday.
The professional dancer shared snippets from her big day on Instagram and there were big smiles as well as tears of joy.
Beside a picture of her sitting down in front of colourful decorations, Oti wrote: “It’s the big day!!! The big 30 woke up this morning with the biggest smile feeling happy and so grateful for everything and everyone in my life truly happy from my soul and excited for this chapter in my life!
“Then topped up by a surprise zoom call with all my family and friends made so happy and emotional .”
Oti’s dancer sibling Motsi had arranged the call, but their mum Dudu soon took over, making her daughter laugh.
She was seen wiping tears from her eyes as she spoke to her family.
Motsi shared a throwback snap of the pair as children blowing out candles on a cake.
She posted: “There she is Our Lion !!! She roars so loud that you can hear it beyond, she shines so bright that it might blind you , but is it not what you wanted from Mandela’s children ?? For them to rise and so they will rise !!!
“Happy birthday Lion !! Keep that fire burning , keep chasing your dreams !keep growing ! You know where you can come to refuel & ignite that fire because for us you will always be our Last Born !!!
“We will always be there for you.”
The call was even more poignant given yesterday we revealed Strictly stars will be cut off from family and friends until early September as they begin work on the new series.
Stars including last year’s champion Oti will have to form bubbles with their celeb partners.
The measures have been signed off by BBC bosses to protect the flagship programme from Covid-19.
A show insider said: “These are unprecedented times.
“The crew and dancers are still reeling at being told how extreme the measures have to be. They’ve left one lockdown for another.
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“They’ve got girlfriends, boyfriends, wives, husbands, children and pets — it’s not going to be easy being separated for that length of time.
“Nevertheless, they love the show and are determined to bring it back to our screens.”
Dancers and crew will be at a central London hotel for four weeks from next month to rehearse group dances.