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Lauren Oakley: Husband, Children, Nationality & More

Freddie Cooper Carter • 2026-07-09 • Reviewed by Oliver Bennett

Every Strictly Come Dancing fan knows the thrill of a Saturday night routine, but behind the sequins is a dancer whose journey from a Birmingham childhood to the BBC ballroom is as captivating as any paso doble — born on 28 February 1991, Lauren Oakley started dancing at age two and joined the show in 2022, quickly becoming a viewer favourite. This profile separates what is publicly known about her marriage, children, and career from the parts of her life she keeps private.

Date of birth: 28 February 1991 ·
Age: 33 ·
Nationality: English ·
Profession: Professional dancer and choreographer ·
Known for: Strictly Come Dancing

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact marital status and husband’s identity (no official confirmation)
  • Whether she has children (BBC profile does not mention children)
  • Current residence details
  • Relationship with Kai Widdrington (unconfirmed)
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

“Lauren Oakley is an English professional dancer and choreographer.”

BBC (official artist page)

Seven key facts, one takeaway: Lauren Oakley is a career dancer with a strong Birmingham identity, but significant details about her private life remain unconfirmed in public records.

Attribute Detail
Full name Lauren May Oakley
Date of birth 28 February 1991
Age 33
Nationality English
Profession Professional dancer and choreographer
Known for Strictly Come Dancing
Birthplace Birmingham, England

Who is Lauren Oakley from Strictly Married to?

According to multiple entertainment outlets, Lauren Oakley is married to Maximiliano Omar Montes de Oca. The pair wed in September 2019 after getting engaged in August 2018 (Smooth Radio (entertainment news)).

Who is Lauren Oakley’s husband?

  • Maximiliano Omar Montes de Oca — not a public figure; little is known about his profession or background.
  • The couple keep their relationship largely out of the spotlight (Heart Radio).
  • A 2024 interview with Birmingham Living quotes Oakley saying she is “married with four cats” (Birmingham Living (local magazine)).
Bottom line: Lauren Oakley is married to Maximiliano Omar Montes de Oca since September 2019, but her husband stays deliberately away from public attention.

The implication: her marriage is a private cornerstone she rarely discusses publicly.

Does Lauren Oakley have any children?

Based on all available public profiles, including the official BBC artist page, there is no mention of children (BBC). Birmingham Living’s feature, which includes a quote from Oakley about her cats, also does not reference children (Birmingham Living).

Who is the professional dancer on Strictly who is pregnant?

During the 2024 series, professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova was pregnant, not Lauren Oakley (Heart Radio). Oakley has not announced any pregnancy.

The upshot

Lauren Oakley is not a parent according to any verified source; her family life appears to consist of her husband and four cats.

Bottom line: All evidence points to Lauren Oakley having no children, despite occasional online speculation.

What this means: the absence of children in public records reinforces her choice to keep family life off-camera.

What is Lauren Oakley’s nationality?

Lauren Oakley is English. She was born and raised in Birmingham, England (BBC). Her heritage is not widely discussed, but public profiles consistently list her as English.

Is Kai Widdrington half Chinese?

Kai Widdrington, another Strictly professional, has spoken about his mixed heritage — his mother is Chinese and his father is English (Wikipedia (public biography)). This is unrelated to Lauren Oakley’s nationality. Oakley and Widdrington have been rumoured to be dating, but neither has confirmed a relationship.

Bottom line: Lauren Oakley is English and Birmingham-born; Kai Widdrington’s ethnicity is a separate matter often conflated in fan discussions.

The pattern: nationality queries often get tangled with unrelated fan speculation.

Where does Lauren Oakley live now?

In a 2024 interview, Lauren Oakley revealed she moved from Birmingham to Reading to be closer to London for work. She said: “I miss Birmingham but I’m married with four cats so it needed to be commutable” (Birmingham Living). She maintains strong ties to her hometown.

Why this matters

Her relocation reflects the practical demands of a television career while staying rooted in her Midlands identity.

The catch: Reading is a commuter compromise that keeps her connected to both family and studio.

Who is Lauren from Strictly dating?

Current relationship status: Lauren Oakley is married to Maximiliano Omar Montes de Oca (Smooth Radio). Rumours of a romance with fellow dancer Kai Widdrington have circulated online, but no credible source has confirmed a split from her husband or a new relationship.

Is Kai Widdrington half Chinese?

As noted above, Kai Widdrington is of mixed Chinese and English descent (Wikipedia). Speculation about a relationship between Oakley and Widdrington appears to stem from their on-screen chemistry, not from any verified change in Oakley’s marital status.

Bottom line: Lauren Oakley is still married according to available records; dating rumours remain unsubstantiated.

The implication: on-screen chemistry does not equal off-screen romance for this private professional.

Confirmed facts

  • Lauren Oakley is an English professional dancer (BBC)
  • Date of birth: 28 February 1991 (Wikipedia)
  • Birmingham-born (BBC)
  • Married to Maximiliano Omar Montes de Oca since September 2019 (Smooth Radio)

What’s unclear

  • Marital status and husband’s identity (no official confirmation)
  • Whether she has children (no public mention)
  • Current residence details
  • Relationship with Kai Widdrington (unconfirmed)

“I miss Birmingham but I’m married with four cats so it needed to be commutable.”

Lauren Oakley, speaking to Birmingham Living (local magazine), 2024

For a dancer who spends her Saturdays in front of millions, Lauren Oakley guards her private life carefully. The implication: the public knows her routines, but the person behind them remains largely her own.

Frequently asked questions

How long has Lauren Oakley been dancing?

Lauren started dancing at age two, meaning she has been dancing for over 30 years (BBC).

What is Lauren Oakley’s dance style?

She is trained in Latin and ballroom, as well as other disciplines (Donahey’s).

Has Lauren Oakley won any competitions?

She has won several titles in UK dance competitions before joining Strictly, including the British National Championships (Heart Radio).

Does Lauren Oakley teach dance?

Yes, she teaches at dance studios and has appeared at dance events (Donahey’s).

What is Lauren Oakley’s Instagram handle?

Her handle is @lauren_oakley (not verified in this article but publicly known).

How tall is Lauren Oakley?

Her height is not officially listed, but reports suggest she is around 5’5″ (1.65 m) (Heart Radio).

What is Lauren Oakley’s hair color?

She has naturally brown hair, often styled in waves or up-dos for performances.

Related reading

For fans of Strictly Come Dancing, the picture of Lauren Oakley is one of a talented dancer who balances a private marriage and a love for her hometown. The key takeaway: Oakley’s professional life is well-documented, but her personal story remains largely untold—and that seems to be exactly how she wants it. Lauren Oakley chooses to keep her private life off the dance floor, a decision that leaves viewers curious but respectful.



Freddie Cooper Carter

About the author

Freddie Cooper Carter

Our desk combines breaking updates with clear and practical explainers.