“When I first went on Strictly' I had a little phase at the beginning, you know, when I was sat next to this really beautiful lady, Darcey Bussell - this ballerina, this Snow White beauty - that I stopped eating until I looked at myself and realized I looked so gaunt.”

English dancer and television personality

Shirley Ballas is an English dancer and television personality, best known for her work in International Latin and for serving as head judge on Strictly Come Dancing since 2017. She built her reputation through competitive dancing, winning several championship titles in the International Latin division, a record that earned her the nickname "the Queen of Latin." In later years, she became a familiar face on television, especially through her role on the BBC One dance competition, where she appears as a judge rather than a performer.