Meet Strictly Come Dancing Pro Lauren Oakley

Lauren Oakley is a professional dancer on the popular BBC show Strictly Come Dancing. But who is she and how did she rise to fame on one of the UK's most beloved TV shows? Here's everything you need to know.

Early Success in Competitions

Lauren Oakley was born on February 28, 1991, in Birmingham and discovered her passion for dancing at a very young age. Starting to dance at 2 years old, she began competing in ballroom and latin dancing by the age of 7. Her talent shone through as she became the Juvenile Champion at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival and later was crowned the Under 21 British National Champion. Additionally, she toured the world with Burn the Floor in her career.

Joining Strictly Come Dancing

In 2022, Lauren Oakley joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing, alongside fellow professional dancers Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, and Michelle Tsiakkas. Her first celebrity partner on the show was journalist and TV personality Krishnan Guru-Murthy. Together, they made it to the eighth week of the competition before being eliminated by Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington. Recently, Lauren made headlines for showing support to Giovanni Pernice, another professional dancer on the show who faced controversy.

Personal Life and Marriage

Lauren Oakley is married to Maximiliano Omar Montes de Oca, with whom she tied the knot in 2019. Their wedding featured Lauren in a beautiful lace gown by Made with Love Bridal, adorned with a flower crown. Despite their public careers, the couple prefers to keep their relationship private and have chosen not to have children at this time.