Dancing On Ice star Oti Mabuse shares years-long struggle after ‘hurtful’ remarks
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Dancing On Ice star Oti Mabuse has spoken further about how cruel trolls have damaged her body positivity. The former Strictly Come Dancing pro, 34, said she had ‘struggled for years’ over vile abuse about her appearance. She said she has always encouraged women to ‘feel comfortable in their own skin’ but was sometimes unable to do so herself due to trolls ‘going out of their way to make you feel terrible.’.
![[BBC handout photo of Kelvin Fletcher with Oti Mabuse during the dress rehearsal for the live Strictly Come Dancing show on Saturday. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday December 7, 2019. See PA story SHOWBIZ Strictly. Photo credit should read: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PRI_146962359-3bea.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=640)
However, the I’m A Celebrity campmate said she was ‘working on’ not allowing the ‘hurtful’ comments to negatively impact her self-esteem. Discussing the pressures of body image, Oti said women ‘get put through the trenches a lot of the time’ over their appearance and said she was receiving ‘the most compliments’ when she was ‘not making healthy lifestyle choices.’.
![[STRICT EMBARGO - NOT FOR USE BEFORE 22:30 GMT, 21 Nov 2024 - EDITORIAL USE ONLY Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/Shutterstock (14932904an) Melvin Contraband - Oti Mabuse 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' TV show, Series 24, Australia - 21 Nov 2024]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_230431737-6232.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
She continued to The Times: ‘I guess I’ve always been about body positivity and women feeling comfortable in their own skin, but when a picture has been taken of you, and someone goes out of their way to make you feel terrible, that’s not nice. That’s actually quite hurtful.
![[LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: Oti Mabuse attends the launch of Coleen Rooney x Applied Nutrition Wellness Range at White City House on January 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236187898-b027.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next. ‘I’ve struggled with it for years and I guess I’m still working through it, trying not to let those comments get to me, trying to still be like, “Look, I’m here, I’m curvy.” I look completely different from how other women look. Completely different. But I’m doing it anyway.’.
![[Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Kieron McCarron/ITV/Shutterstock (15100446fd) Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse 'Dancing on Ice' TV Show, Series 17, Episode 2, Hertfordshire, UK - 19 Jan 2025]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236594870-ac33.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
