AJ Odudu felt she had to have ‘signature look’ after being mistaken for other Black presenters: ‘I’m embracing me a lot more’

AJ Odudu has embraced her personal id (Image: Ruth Ossai / Cosmopolitan UK)

AJ Odudu has revealed she used to really feel like she needed to undertake a signature model on order to not be mistaken for different Black presenters, however has realized to embrace her personal id.

The Large Breakfast presenter, 34, opened as much as Cosmopolitan UK about how her private model has advanced through the years.

She revealed: ‘Prior to now, I’ve felt like I’ve needed to have one signature look with a purpose to stay recognisable – publications have mistaken me for different Black feminine presenters who I look nothing like.

‘Whereas now, my philosophy has fully modified. I play with my seems to be with vibrant make-up and completely different hairstyles, be it braids, straight hair, afro, twists.

‘I’m embracing me much more and I’m assured to be much more playful and experimental with my hairstyles and my magnificence.’

Rising up in Blackburn, AJ recollects there not being as a lot illustration of Black magnificence within the mainstream.

AJ felt she hsd to get a signature look to not be mistaken for different Black stars (Image: Ruth Ossai / Cosmopolitan UK)

She defined: ‘My mum by no means wore make-up, and I grew up in Blackburn so there have been no Black magazines; no Black folks [laughs]!

‘There was no Black something. However once I did get into magnificence, it was by sure magazines.’

AJ admitted that the wonder business nonetheless has a strategy to go to turn out to be absolutely inclusive, corresponding to offering basis in a full spectrum of pores and skin colors on the similar worth factors moderately than manufacturers catering for Black skintones charging shoppers extra.

AJ spoke to Cosmopolitan about how her outlook on magnificence has modified (Image: Ruth Ossai / Cosmopolitan UK)

She hopes that sooner or later everybody will be capable of ‘really feel stunning and to have the ability to categorical themselves in whichever means they select’.

The presenter added: ‘For the following era of Black folks, I hope that they recognise their sauce and their magnificence from the youngest age… It’s actually superb that, on the age of 34, I lastly really feel assured.

‘All of the issues I didn’t like about my powerful, coarse, afro hair; I now love. Nevertheless it’s taken me so a few years and I believe it’s such a disgrace.

‘I actually hope my nieces, nephews, cousins, and all Black folks within the diaspora know that their pores and skin, their hair, their every thing is exclusive to them and is gorgeous due to that.’