Happiful March 2020

lived rough, sleeping in the
doorway of a city-centre taxi rank,
and showering in shopping mall
toilet facilities, all so he could save
money to send home to his family.
It was during this ordeal that he
had the biblical verse ‘no weapon
formed against me shall prosper’
tattooed on to his ribs.
“That was my mantra for the
longest time. I come from a family
of very strong personalities. My
mother and my aunts are my pillars
of strength. But looking back, I
was so miserable, and I can’t tell
you where the courage to do that
came from,” says Johannes, quickly
correcting himself. “I actually tell
you lies. It was all because I needed
to provide for my family. That was
so important.”
It still is. Johannes sends home
a portion of his Strictly earnings,
but now the gesture comes without
sacrifice. He rents an apartment
in north London, and is househunting
in South Africa for his own
place, plus one for his mum.
I ask what his father would make
of his achievements. The question
prompts Johannes’ chin to fall to
his chest.
“Dad’s death was a sad one,
because it was quick. We were
very close…” he says, his voice
momentarily disappearing. “I think
dad would have been very proud.
Mostly, I think he would have been
shocked that I had the courage
to do what I’ve done. The fact he
didn’t get to see all this unfold
leaves me feeling sad at times, but
I’m happy I did it and I’m sure,
wherever he is, he is happy, too.”
As our time together draws to a
close, I wonder whether Johannes
unwittingly carried the shame he
endured as a boy into adulthood
I think dad would have been very proud.
The fact he didn’t get to see all this
unfold leaves me feeling sad at times,
but I’m happy I did it and I’m sure,
wherever he is, he is happy, too
and, if so, what effect his two gamechanging
Strictly performances
and the subsequent “incredible”
response of his wider family have
had on his mindset.
“Yes I did,” he confirms. “When
I’ve got people coming up to me,
saying ‘Johannes, you’re such a
wonderful person,’ I think ‘Maybe
there’s actually nothing wrong
with me, after all this time.’ It’s
a beautiful feeling. Being in this
country has been very liberating.
It’s nice to settle in a place where I
feel I’m seen, where there’s much
more freedom, and people are
more liberated and progressive.”
As Johannes has always sought
counsel from family and friends
who have kept him “in check”,
what is his advice to loved ones of
LGBTQ+ youngsters?
“Love and show support,” he
says firmly. “Make sure they
know there’s nothing wrong with
them. I’ve been blessed to come
across people who, when I was
being bullied in the middle of the
street, would bring it to order and
say ‘That’s not right.’ We need to
live in a world where we’re not
afraid to stand up to what’s wrong,
because what I do in my bedroom
has nothing to do with you. I don’t
dictate how you should live your
life, so why are you telling me how
to live mine?”
While Johannes’ last relationship
was three years ago and shortlived
– the nomadic life of a dancer
doesn’t always lend itself well to
long-term commitment – if the
right opportunity presented itself,
he would leap at the opportunity to
settle down.
“I wish I had a boyfriend. I’m
not saying it’s the one thing that’s
missing, but it would be nice to
come home to somebody. I’m not
young anymore! I would like to be
with somebody who’s going to take
this all the way,” he says, referring
to marriage and children.
As for the next step in his career?
That’s simple. “I want to continue
the Strictly journey for as long as
I can,” he says. “It’s a once in a
lifetime opportunity, – as long as
they’ll have me, I’ll come back.”
After the shoot wraps, I bump
into Johannes on the street outside
before he heads off to resume his
Strictly tour duties. “You can’t keep
away from me!” he laughs, and
there’s no point denying it. When
kindness, graciousness, emotional
generosity, inner strength, and a
desire to help others combine, the
allure is truly captivating.
Johannes will be appearing in the
Strictly Professionals Tour from May
2020. Find him @johannesradebe on
Instagram.
22 • happiful.com • March 2020