Shirley Ballas, beloved as the head judge on *Strictly Come Dancing*, has candidly shared her personal battles with “dark times” and health challenges. 

In a powerful move, the 64-year-old dancer has stepped forward as the face of a campaign promoting pelvic floor exercises 

and encouraging women to openly address issues related to bladder leaks. This initiative is part of her ongoing mission to break the taboo surrounding such health topics.

In a recent interview, Shirley admitted that she initially hesitated when invited to join the campaign. 

Despite being open about her experiences with friends, discussing topics like bladder leaks can still be considered taboo. 

“It did take a minute when I was invited to do this, because even though I can talk about this among my friends, it’s a bit of a taboo subject,” she explained. 

However, Shirley was soon inspired to speak out when she considered the potential impact her words could have on other women. Reflecting on a conversation with her 87-year-old mother, Audrey, Shirley shared how her mother encouraged her to use her platform to help others. “Think of all the women you could help, think of all the people out there for whom you could make it not such a taboo subject,” her mother told her. Shirley’s mother also reminded her of the personal health struggles she has faced, further motivating her to take on this important cause.

As part of her commitment to the campaign, which is partnered with Always Discreet’s “Squeeze the Day” initiative, Shirley opened up about her own experiences with bladder control issues, which began during her post-childbirth recovery and continued through menopause. She stressed the importance of normalizing conversations about bladder leaks to help women feel supported and empowered to seek assistance.

Shirley recounted the challenges she faced after giving birth to her son, Mark Ballas, who would later go on to become a three-time *Dancing with the Stars* champion in the United States. Shirley, only 25 at the time, recalled how she had to quickly return to dancing after childbirth, despite struggling with the discomfort and lack of support. “One of the times leaks have affected me was, of course, when I gave birth to Mark when I was 25, and I had to wear a sort of napkin and get back to dancing straight away,” she recalled. “There was no sort of help for me or anything.”

As a young mother balancing breastfeeding and recovery, Shirley also described the difficult experiences she faced, including moments when she was in physical pain and had to manage leaking breast milk during a church service. “I remember my boobs leaking in the church and nobody really cared or helped,” she said. 

Shirley continued to face these struggles in her later years, particularly during menopause. However, she emphasized that she kept these personal battles to herself, not wanting to burden others with her discomfort. “It wasn’t pretty for me after I gave birth to my son or during menopause,” she said. “I kept it all very personal, as I did with the menopause, but my mum thinks life is about helping people, that’s why I’m on this mission.”

Her mission is now focused on shedding light on a topic that affects millions of women but is often kept in the shadows. Shirley’s honesty and advocacy for pelvic health have helped spark important discussions about bladder leaks, with her urging women to take charge of their health by seeking help when needed.

For Shirley, the key to breaking the stigma is opening up about these issues. “The more I talk about it, the easier it becomes,” she said. By using her visibility and influence, she hopes to inspire other women to do the same and to find the support they deserve. Shirley’s decision to speak out is an important step toward making pelvic health a less taboo subject and empowering women to take control of their well-being.

Through her brave openness, Shirley Ballas is showing that even the most personal and challenging health issues can be approached with strength and courage. Her advocacy is a reminder that support is available, and the more we talk, the easier it will be for women to seek the help they need.

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