Strictly Come Dancing’s AJ Odudu: ‘I’ve had to work twice as hard as my white peers

AJ Odudu felt that she had to jump through ‘many more hoops’ than her white peers during her career as a TV presenter.

Following her success on Strictly Come Dancing, it was predicted that the 34-year-old host would go on to big things, and she’s already landed a series of major presenting gigs, including the Bafta red carpet event.

However, AJ told Women’s Health that she felt the need to work twice as hard as a Black woman on TV.

Gracing the front cover of the May issue in a baby pink leotard, she said: ‘Even if you don’t get told (that you need to work harder to get half as far as white peers), you feel it.’

She added: ‘The opportunities you get and the things that you do, you know in your heart of hearts that you’ve had to jump through many more hoops than your counterparts.’

Despite feeling the overwhelming pressure, The Big Breakfast star revealed how proud she was to have ‘waded’ through it.