Shirley Ballas, the 65-year-old head judge on Strictly Come Dancing, shared a bold topless poolside selfie from her sunny holiday on Instagram this Saturday.
She covered her chest with her arm in the mirror selfie, displaying her impressive age-defying physique during the lavish getaway.
Health Kick in Full Swing
In another post, Shirley showcased her nutritious breakfast of kiwis, a smoothie, and black coffee, captioning it: ‘Starting my health kick.’
Her routine features intense juice diets, the paradox plant diet, and regular yoga sessions. Earlier this year, she shared a strict eating strategy to maintain her size 10 figure.
She explained that three full meals become challenging after 60. ‘The first year on the Strictly Come Dancing tour, I gained ten pounds just in that one month. Then I realised you cannot eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, Shirley, you are over the age of 60!’
To adapt, she skips breakfast and lunch, enjoying a substantial dinner around 4 or 5 p.m. with rice and lean beef or chicken. Practicing intermittent fasting, she noted: ‘I’ve realised the body doesn’t need as much food as I keep stuffing in my face, so I do take care of it. I don’t have anything in the morning and normally around lunch I’ll have a juice, and then about 4 or 5pm my mother does a lovely meal.’
Family Focus Fuels Strictly Speculation
Shirley recently expressed a desire to be a more involved grandmother, intensifying rumors of her potential departure from Strictly Come Dancing.
Reflecting on her past, she admitted regrets about prioritizing her career over family time with son Mark. ‘I want to be a much better grandmother than I was a mother, as I was pursuing my career. I have told him I don’t think I was there for him. I used to have his teddy in my suitcase. It was very difficult for me.’
Mark, 39, a professional dancer in the US, lives with wife BC Jean, 38—a singer-songwriter—and their two-year-old son, Banksi. The couple awaits their second child.
Potential Move to US Dance Show
Speculation grows that Shirley may join Mark as a judge on a Dancing with the Stars spin-off in the US, possibly clashing with Strictly‘s September-to-December filming.
Mark, a three-time Dancing with the Stars winner from 2007 to 2023, will help select new professionals. The series, hosted by Robert Irwin—son of the late Steve Irwin—aims to refresh the show.
Shirley expressed enthusiasm: she would love to dance the cha cha cha with her son and perform a full routine together.
Fans on social media, including Reddit, debate her future. One user wrote: ‘VERY interesting, makes me wonder if she’s considering leaving Strictly for the Dancing with the Stars main show!’ Another added: ‘I don’t think she will leave Strictly unless they both are clashing,’ while a third suggested: ‘She’ll do what Bruno did and leave for a week or two with a guest judge filling in for her.’
This follows precedents set by former Strictly judges Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli, who appeared on the US counterpart.
