RELEBOGILE Mabotja, actress and presenter of SABC1's weight loss reality show, Dance Your Butt Off, is living her life to the fullest in her "fat body" and is showing her skinny counterparts just what she is made of

Presenting the South African version of the American reality show, Dance Your Ass Off, Mabotja says people are now more comfortable speaking to her about her weight.

The 25-year-old Pretoria-born woman says since the show started her friends and the public have complimented her on her confidence, especially in an industry where being skinny is an obsession.

"People used to be very careful when talking about weight and fat people.

"Presenting a show about people working at losing weight has showed many that there is nothing really embarrassing about being fat," she told Sowetan in Durban at the weekend.

Unlike the contestants, who have to dance their butts off and impress the judges while losing weight each week, Mabotja sometimes has to be the shoulder to cry on for struggling contestants.

"I am there for the contestants. Sometimes they get frustrated when, after working so hard, they do not lose weight. It is not easy to lose weight, it's a lot of work.

"Being healthy is very important. I visit my doctor often to check on my health. I watch what I eat. Whether I am fat or not is not important. What's important is that I'm healthy," she says.

Mabotja is no stranger to the small screen. She acts as Fats' girlfriend in Rhythm City and has also starred in Zone 14.

The show's judges include choreographer Somizi Mhlongo, radio personality DJ Sbu and former Muvhango actress and dancer Khabonina Qubeka.

Each week they send one contestant home based on their weight loss. The person who loses the least weight is eliminated.

Tonight's episode, the third, starts at 6.30pm.