Born in the London area in 1966, Judd took a shine to 'frocks on the box' at a very early age, so that her first real job was as a secretary in the BBC television costume department. Here, by her own admission, she 'fell in love' with costumes and, at the age of 25, enrolled at Epsom Art School to take a degree in fashion, after which she returned to the BBC. In the first decade of the 21st century she became the principal designer - in collaboration with couture house Chrisanne - of every episode of the 'Strictly Come Dancing' pro/am ballroom competition.