Clara Amfo's Biography

Who is Clara Amfo?

Clara is best known as a radio DJ.

She grew up in Kingston-upon-Thames, the fifth of six children.

Her father was a microbiologist and parasitologist and her mother was a dinner lady.

In 2009, she started at Kiss FM as a marketing intern. She then got to present their overnight show, followed by Saturday Breakfast and then drive time.

In 2013, she joined BBC Radio 1Xtra to present the weekend breakfast show. She also hosted The MOBO Awards red carpet coverage.

In January 2015, Clara took over from Jameela Jamil as presenter of The Official Chart on BBC Radio 1.

She then took over from Fearne Cotton on Radio 1's Live Lounge.

Clara Amfo hosted BBC Three's coverage of Radio 1’s Big Weekend, T in The Park (with Angela Scanlon), the BRIT awards, and the Glastonbury festival.

In 2017, according to the Evening Standard, The Braid Bar came under fire in January from Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo  for using white models for a hairstyle “clearly influenced by popular R&B, hip hop and dancehall culture, which originates from black women”.

Meanwhile, Black Beauty listed Clara Amfo's hair - braided or loose, as one of the five reasons they loved her.

In 2018, Clara Amfo became one of the contestants on Celebrity Masterchef.

In 2020, she became one of the celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing. Clara was paired with Aljaz Skorjanec. They were the fifth couple to be voted off.

She hosts a podcast called This City.

In 2024, Clara Amfo along with Maya Jama and Roman Kemp were selected to be the hosts of The BRIT Awards.

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