Shirley Ballas, 62, goes topless in holiday snaps as star branded an 'inspiration' after overcoming 'weight struggles'

The dancer posed and lounged topless in a series of snippets from the break away as she detailed in the caption all she'd been doing to keep busy.

"What goes down at @juicemasterretreats you ask ?… a little bit of everything," Ballas penned. "Juicing, yoga, exercising, walking, spinning and jiving."

Referring to her more risqué adventures, she added: "I switched off my phone, swam in the lake and went naked by the sea lol.

"I enjoyed every moment in beautiful scenery with beautiful people," Ballas continued before paying special mention to her friends who accompanied her on the trip.

She signed off: "Now we head home for a short weekend before going up north for @bbcbreakfast, then down to Wales for my @calmzone Skyathlon, and then very soon I get back behind that @bbcstrictly desk! Hugs and love to you all. Xxx." (sic)

The daring topless snaps were shared just days after Ballas candidly opened up in a separate post about her body image struggles over the years.

Alongside a before and after bikini snap from 2016 and 2023, Ballas admitted she was now "taking care of myself" after "struggling all my life with weight issues".

She penned last week: "I’ve constantly had people tell me I needed to be thinner or that I had to look a certain way.

"Comments throughout my life have always stuck with me and in my past they’ve made me feel conscious of how I look. Sadly I thought that validation from others was necessary.

"But turning 63 in September and heading into my seventh series on @bbcstrictly I’m proud of myself and pleased with how I look. I feel good in my own skin," she signed off.

Ballas' candor and newfound confidence to share the most recent snaps after ditching her top led to many of her followers praising the 62-year-old.

One fan replied to Ballas' latest post: "I’m an ex dancer and rapidly heading to 50! You are a complete inspiration.

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"I need to change my mindset and get on with it!! I’ve hated my body over the last few months and am desperate to get back to feeling myself again."

And a second concurred: "Looking fabulous. Love the video. I have that song on my playlist. It’s so upbeat and catchy."

While a third praised the star: "Love that you are living and enjoying your time before you do your challenge to help Calm."

Ballas will return to the Strictly judging panel in just a few weeks' time as a new crop of celebrities heads to the dancefloor.

As of Monday morning, Eddie Kadi, Amanda Abbington, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Angela Rippon, Angela Scanlon and Layton Williams are the first stars announced to take part.