Here’s your brand new Strictly Come Dancing judge

SEVEEEEEEN

Shirley Ballas

by Carl Smith |
Published on

Former 'British Open to the World' Latin American champion Shirley Ballas has been confirmed as the new Head Judge on Strictly Come Dancing; replacing Len Goodman after what can only be describe as donkey's years in the role.

British-born Shirley - a ballroom and Latin dancer and international coach from Wallasey - will be sitting in Len's seaton everyone's fave BBC One telly show. Congrats, love.

Shirley Ballas
©BBC/Strictly Come Dancing

So what do we know about her, then? WELL, she retired from competitive dancing back in 1996 and had won nearly every major title she competed in worldwide by the age of 21. No big deal.

Shirley's the youngest ever female to reach the ‘British Open to the World’ Dance Championship finals and is nicknames the 'Queen of Latin.'

Oh, and as if that wasn't enough she's 10-time United States Latin American Champion and multiple-times British National Champion.

Nice one.

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