Composite of two images of Shirley Ballas and her mother laughing and hugging, in 2015 and 2026 Shirley Ballas (on right) and her mother, Audrey, in 2015 and 2026. Later photograph: Pål Hansen/The Guardian. Styling: Andie Redman. Hair: Lisa Laudat. Hair and makeup: Jane Burstow. Archive photograph: courtesy of Shirley Ballas Born in Wallasey (now Merseyside) in 1960, Shirley Ballas is one of the most decorated ballroom and Latin dancers in the world. She became a three-time winner of the British Professional Latin Championship (Open to the World), before retiring from competitive dancing in 1996 to become a teacher and adjudicator. In 2017, she joined the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing as a judge. She lives in London with her mother, Audrey, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ballas supports the Breathe Equal campaign with Sanofi, to raise awareness of COPD and address stigma and inequalities in care. Shirley My mother and I were on a cruise liner going around Hawaii.…