Who is Shirley Ballas' son Mark? TikTok star, music career and wife's Beyoncé link

Shirley Ballas joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 and has fast become a fan-favourite.

Born and raised on a British council estate, the head judge, 62, married her fellow ballroom star Mark Alexander Sr ‘Corky’ Ballas in 1985.

A year later, the since-divorced couple welcomed their first and only child, Mark Ballas.

READ MORE:Strictly judge Shirley Ballas in tears as son Mark wins Dancing with the Star US

While Mark has yet to grace the Strictly stage, the 36-year-old is a professional dancer on Dancing With The Stars US and won the most recent series alongside his celeb dance partner and TikTok star, Charli D’Amelio.

As he celebrates his third Strictly US win, Daily Star takes a look inside Mark’s extraordinary life.

Famous parents

Mark is the first and only child of Corky and Shirley Ballas.

The couple, who are both ballroom dancers, married in 1985 and welcomed Mark a year later in 1986.

In 2007, Shirley and Corky were granted a divorce – leaving Mark with separated parents from the age of 21.

Like Shirley, Corky is a retired competitive ballroom dancer who holds several Latin dance championship titles.

Together, Corky and Shirley were undefeated United States International Latin Champions for seven years.

Corky’s father and Mark’s grandfather George Ballas was also a famed inventor, responsible for introducing the first ever gardening string trimmer.

Mark was born in Texas but as a child, moved to London where he attended the world-renowned Italia Conti Performing Arts School.

At the school, Mark not only pursued his passion for dance but also developed an aptitude for music – which would eventually lead into his very own singing career.

Music career

Alongside his passion for dance, Mark has been dabbling in a music career for the majority of his adult life.

The dancer is classically trained on the flamenco guitar and can also play drums and bass.

Speaking to the Akron Beakon Journal in 2013, Mark said: “As a guitar player, a lot of my stuff has that percussive, rhythmic type of feel that flamenco has.”

Performing his own music since the age of 12, Mark previously opened for Blurred Lines singer Robin Thicke for two of his concerts.

He has also performed an acoustic set at the CSXSW music festival.

TikTok star

Earlier this month, Mark swept to victory on the 31st season of Dancing With The Stars US alongside Tik Tok star Charli D’Amelio.

It was his first partnership on the show in five years.

Mark and Charli, 18, beat out celebrity acts Shangela, Wayne Brady and Gabby Windey to take the glitterball trophy – much to Mark’s mother Shirley’s delight.

Speaking after their win – his third in the show overall – Mark said: “I had a really lovely time, made a great friend and had a great time creating and dancing with Charli and also to be on the floor with all my comrades.

“I’ve grown up with all of them. I loved it. I had a really beautiful time.”

Wife’s Beyoncé link

On hand to help Mark celebrates his DWTS victory was his wife of six years, BC Jean.

Following their Thanksgiving Day engagement in 2015, the pair officially tied the knot the day after the US holiday on November 25, 2016.

They began dating in 2012.

On their first meeting, Jean previously told Riff Magazine: “We met at a singer-songwriter night at a mutual friend’s house.

“It was kind of like a fun party night where singers and musicians would get up and perform.”

As well as being married, Mark and Jean are bandmates.

The pair both perform music together under the band name Alexander Jean, which is a combination of their middle names.

They also share a dog named Hendrix.

Alongside Mark, Jean is a successful and accomplished star in her own right – having famously penned Beyoncé’s hit ballad If I Were A Boy.

For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.

READ NEXT:

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk