Definitely Wa Dancing star Odi Mapuse announced a dramatic career change on Friday as she unveiled her sexiest project – and enlisted her husband to promote it.
The 33-year-old pro dancer revealed she has written a 'spicy' adult fiction book, swapping the dance floor for a bookshop as she lets her creative juices flow.
Her first romance novel, Slow Burn, will be released in hardback, e-book and audio on September 11, 2025.
And to tease it, the star shared a very funny clip featuring herself and her husband Marius LeBure, 41.
In the video, Odi is seen pinned to a wall by her husband, and a later shot shows her in a dress and heels on the floor, her first book, No Back Down.
Strictly Come Dancing star Odi Mabus has announced a dramatic career change as she unveiled her glamorous project on Friday – and enlisted her husband to promote it.
Teasing it, the star shared a very funny clip featuring herself and her husband Marius LeBure, 41.
The ill-fated clip was set against the song Earned It By The Weeknd, which features on the Fifty Shades of Gray soundtrack.
In a video to announce the project, Oti told his 709,000 followers: 'Hi guys, I have some news to share. I am very excited.
'It's a little project I've been working on for a while now – I'm just spilling the beans on what it is.
'Now some of you know I love reading, but more than that, I love reading a good romance.
'So, I went and wrote one. It's great, it's funny, it's spicy, and of course – there's dancing. If it wasn't for me this wouldn't be a book without dancing.'
He added: 'It's out on September 11, 2025, but it's available for pre-order and you can get some signed copies from WH Smith, which is really exciting.
'I had a lot of fun reading it and I hope you enjoy reading it too – let's get our book.'
The ill-fated clip was set against the song Earned It By The Weeknd, which features on the Fifty Shades of Gray soundtrack.
The video shows Odi being pinned to a wall by her husband, and then a shot shows her on the floor in a dress and heels, her first book Won't Back Down.
Her first romance novel, Slow Burn, will be released in hardback, e-book and audio on September 11, 2025.
The cover of the book shows a couple on a dance floor gazing lovingly into each other's eyes and the text on the front reads: 'On the floor they smoke. Off it they are electric.'
The book description on the Waterstones website explains: 'To fall in love, they must first be held back.
'For Lira, the Latin Ballroom is everything. While her dreams of fame were cut short at 19, she has never forgotten dancing with a stranger at a Paris world championships after-party 13 years ago.
'Taking over the responsibility of running the family dance studio was not in her master plan, but with her two younger sisters pursuing their own successful careers, Lira's flame of ambition is no longer burning.
“But Lira is still cruel and brutal, and she's not going to take it lying down anymore because her family treats her like a doormat. A chance meeting sees Lira secretly audition for Slow Burn, a new dance show about to embark on a 6-week European tour, and come face-to-face with an explosion from her past.
Gabriel has been a darling of the Latin ballroom scene since he taught himself Argentine tango as a child. Slim waisted, long, lean muscles, drooping jawline, dark eyes, obscenely long lashes, and gaping mouth, he's been surrounded by petite women all his life.
'He's the quintessential bad boy – arrogant, cocky and he can't help but take women for granted.
As the longest-running and most popular professional dancer on the hit Italian television dance competition, it's no surprise that he's landing the lead male lead in his oyster, Bring the Heat, Slow Burn.
In a video to announce the project, Oti told his 709,000 followers: 'Hi guys, I have some news to share. I'm so excited'
Odi said: 'Well, I just went and wrote something. It's great, it's funny, it's spicy, and of course – there's dancing. It wouldn't be a book without dance if I didn't.'
Odi's husband Marius Leprey featured in the 'Masala' promotional video (filmed together in 2023)
'But with the tour just weeks away, she's at her wits' end for her last two female lead auditions. He needs to feel the heat, the fire, the chemistry… and then Lyra in the walks.
Oti added: 'I am delighted to be joining Simon & Schuster UK to launch my first adult fiction titles.
'I am proud of my career in the world of dance and the opportunities it has given me. Working on these novels has been an absolute joy and dream come true for me.
'It's been so much fun working with Sarah-Jade and her innovative, creative and passionate team, and I can't wait for readers to get their hands on these books!'
Sarah-Jade Virtue said: 'It would be no exaggeration to say that bringing the love stories created by OD to the romance space is an absolute career highlight.
'She won the hearts of the nation, including mine, by being her true self on our TV screens every week – a strong, relatable, intelligent, funny, passionate and inspirational woman.
'Slow Burn is the perfect debut novel for Odie. It's spicy, it's romantic and it has a swoon-worthy HEA that will blow your socks off!
'Ody has created a cast of characters full of warmth and heart, filled with hot scenes of sexy, black female characters and bitter, spicy emotion. I'm excited for readers to meet Lira and Gabriel both on and off the dance floor.'
The couple announced the arrival of their first child on Christmas Day as they shared this sweet photo of their daughter on Instagram.
Marius, featured in the teaser clip, has been married for nine years and the couple welcomed their first child together in December 2023.
He is also a dancer and has said that he started dancing at the age of 12 because he loved football.
Born in Romania, she moved to Germany in 2001 and from 2014 to 2015 participated in Let's Dance, the German take on Strictly Come Dance.
In 2015, Odi joined Marius on Just Dance, reaching the quarter-finals where Marius and his partner were eliminated first.
They had already met during a dance audition, and Marius married Odie in 2014.
Odie and Marius moved to London on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, when Odie began appearing on the show.
In the following series, Odi and his partner Danny Mack finished second and scored 40 runs for a samba, the highest 10 runs in a single series.
Although they no longer work on the same TV show, Marius is still Odie's professional dance partner and they compete in ballroom competitions.
The couple announced the pregnancy in August and on Christmas Day they welcomed a baby girl.
