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It\u2019s the most wonderful time of the year \u2013 especially if you\u2019re Motsi Mabuse. Our favourite Strictly Come Dancing judge is excited about the show\u2019s grand finale, which will be followed by her first family Christmas in London and an extra-special present \u2013 the birth of sister Oti\u2019s baby.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole family is really excited because the last baby we had is five already,\u201d smiles Motsi. \u201cMy family loves family… We\u2019re really excited about the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
Motsi and her Ukrainian husband Evgenij Voznyuk live in Germany with their five-year-old daughter, but this year the whole Mabuse clan will be in London because of the new arrival.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be spending our first Christmas in London \u2013 the whole family is coming,\u201d says Motsi, 42, who is planning to fill the holidays with festive fun for the children. \u201cWe have a big tree. We want to make it as magical as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Motsi\u2019s daughter \u2013 whose name she keeps private \u2013 is the centre of her world. But while she loves being part of a big brood herself, Motsi feels blessed to have her own happy family of three.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly God knows,\u201d says Motsi, suddenly serious when asked if she wants more children. \u201cWe are happy that we have the three of us. We are a tiny, close-knit family.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day with our daughter feels like a gift and we are so in love with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Motsi can get the tinsel out, she\u2019s got one last show to do, the Strictly Come Dancing final, where the public choose the winner. So does Motsi mind handing control over to the viewers?<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have an opinion and that opinion is legitimate,\u201d insists Motsi. \u201cThey\u2019ve been through this whole journey with people they love so it\u2019s OK to hand it over to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a great season because of all the different personalities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stars such as Ellie Leach, Layton Williams and Angela Scanlon have brought amazing energy to the dance floor, all winning 10s from Motsi and her fellow judges Craig Revel-Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke. And Motsi has been moved by the stars\u2019 commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels genuine,\u201d she says. \u201cIt feels like they really, really want to be part of Strictly.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been five years since Motsi joined the Strictly panel \u2013 before that she was on the German version of the show.<\/p>\n
Prior to a TV career, she won numerous trophies and titles for her dancing, but it took Motsi a long time to shake off the memories of growing up under apartheid in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Heartbreakingly, she was told she wasn\u2019t beautiful growing up. \u201cI used to stare at my pictures because I couldn\u2019t believe it was me,\u201d shares Motsi, reflecting on fame.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you grow up in South Africa, you\u2019re told you\u2019re not pretty, especially if you have dark skin.\u201d<\/p>\n
These days, Motsi loves experimenting with fashion and her hair and make-up. Through that self-expression she inspires other women of colour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a load of fun because what I\u2019m doing is learning to see what looks good on my body, learning to enjoy fashion, reading about fashion… it\u2019s opened a whole different life for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
On TV, Motsi deliberately wears African hairstyles to empower young girls looking for representation \u2013 but she\u2019s also worn straight hair for the same reason. Youngsters are noticing and they are grateful to have such a positive role model.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey take time to write to me, to send me notes… they copy my hairstyles,\u201d smiles Motsi.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have put on African hairstyles and I\u2019ve shown the diversity of hair, but this year I\u2019ve also worn straight hair to say, \u2018You can do whatever you want. You are not supposed to do what people tell you to do. You have a choice.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Motsi\u2019s message is clear. \u201cBe strong in choosing whatever you want to choose,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
In many cultures, women aren\u2019t allowed to express themselves in fashion and Motsi wants to make sure that those who have autonomy and choice celebrate it. It\u2019s a powerful message in a world where many females are still not afforded equality.<\/p>\n
\u201cCelebrating that we have a choice is huge because if you look around the world, not a lot of girls have a lot of choices,\u201d says Motsi.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see what is happening around us in the world. I want us to celebrate us deciding what we want to do with our bodies and what we want to look like. It\u2019s a privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n
Championing women is so important to Motsi. As a mum, she feels her main job is to instil confidence and self-belief in her daughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might be overloading telling her I love her, telling her how special she is, but I know what the world is and I\u2019m hoping my voice will stay when all the other influences come in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strong women helped Motsi get where she is today and Motsi wants to use her power to lift others up.<\/p>\n
Asked if she\u2019s a feminist, she replies: \u201cI am, it\u2019s my passion. I have always found a safe space within women. There will always be a girl on my side. It\u2019s a woman who said, \u2018OK, let\u2019s put her on Strictly.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
With women like Motsi, the future feels full of promise. Motsi smiles, \u201cI always feel I want to help. We need to protect the girls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final is on BBC One on December 16.<\/p>\n