AJ Odudu turns heads in a chocolate power suit as she attends GQ Men Of The Year Awards after-party

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AJ Odudu made a striking appearance at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards after-party held at 180 Strand in London on Tuesday night.

The 37-year-old host of Big Brother looked stunning in a chocolate-brown suit as she arrived at the event.

She wore a stylish outfit consisting of a blazer over a fitted, textured corset, paired with well-cut trousers. The blazer had a low neckline, and the corset emphasized her waist.

AJ looked taller and confident as she posed for photos on the red carpet before the party, thanks to a pair of stylish brown heels.

To complete her look, the beauty accessorised with sleek leather gloves and statement earrings. 

The annual GQ Men of the Year Awards took place in 2025, marking its 28th year. The event honored individuals who made a notable impact on culture through their work in sports, art, and entertainment over the past year.

This year’s event, with sponsorship from eBay, Patrón, and Defender, featured Kareem Rahma from Subway Takes hosting on the red carpet, while Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone hosted the dinner portion.

Big stars like Pierce Brosnan, Skepta, and Cynthia Erivo attended the event, where they were celebrated for recently appearing on the magazine’s cover.

Others in attendance were Jack O’Connell and Tom Hiddleston.

The Summer I Turned Pretty actors Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno also made an appearance. 

Rounding out the VIP guest list were three popular musical performers: Laufey, Nemzzz (who performed live at the event), and Wet Leg.

Both a London and Los Angeles ceremony are held annually, celebrating different groups of honorees.

The celebration for the 30th anniversary of the Men of the Year issue was held on November 13th in Los Angeles at the Chateau Marmont.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always keeping an eye on who’s making waves, and the recent honorees were quite a group! It was fantastic to see Stephen Colbert, Sydney Sweeney, Seth Rogen, SZA, Oscar Isaac, the duo Clipse, and Hailey Bieber all recognized for their contributions. Such a talented and diverse mix of people – really inspiring!

Shay Mitchell, Madison Beer, Winnie Harlow, and Kaley Cuoco were also among the celebrities at the glamorous event.

Cynthia, 38, covered GQ recently amid press for Wicked, where she plays Elphaba Thropp.

During the interview, she revealed that despite her ongoing success and the happiness it brings to her supporters – especially her mother, Edith – she carries a hidden sadness.

The actress hasn’t seen her father since she was sixteen, and they haven’t reconciled. She explained that a silly argument over a train ticket in London led to their estrangement, and he hasn’t been there to support her as her career has taken off.

Erivo recounted to GQ that during their final conversation, he simply told her, ‘This will be the last time I ever see you.’ It was a very abrupt and direct statement.

‘I just didn’t see it coming. I guess you wouldn’t, would you?’

As a lifestyle expert, I often encounter stories about family dynamics, and this one is particularly poignant. The actress and her biological father completely lost touch, and honestly, it breaks my heart to say she doesn’t know anything about him – not his job, who he loved, or even what he believed in. It’s a complete blank slate when it comes to that side of her family.

She doesn’t have his contact information, but Erivo says she’s reminded of him every time she looks in the mirror or sees a photo of herself. They have very similar faces, especially a noticeable gap between their front teeth.

‘It’s a supreme joke,’ she told GQ. ‘It’s a joke from the universe to remind me how human I am. 

I grew up listening to him – he had a beautiful singing voice. I think that’s really influenced how I sing, which is a little strange and sometimes frustrating, but I’ve accepted it. That’s just the way it is.

‘It’s what the universe does. This is the lemon. Make lemonade.’ 

Honestly, I’ve realized accepting things as they are – even when it hurts – has been my way of protecting myself. It’s allowed me to avoid really digging into why someone I cared about suddenly left, and I think, on some level, I’ve been shielding myself from the pain of not getting answers.

She explained, ‘It doesn’t help my situation. His reasons are his own, and this doesn’t alter anything between us. It won’t lead to a relationship. I’ve actually reached a point of acceptance on my own terms.’

Everything unfolded as it needed to, and now, here I am, being named Man of the Year. It’s surreal.

She mentioned that people often tease her for seeming to get over things fast – that she doesn’t dwell on things for very long.

I simply accept that something occurred, or is currently occurring, and I’m not pretending it isn’t.

That’s just how life is. Every day brings new opportunities, and today isn’t the end of the story.

‘So if I drag this thing into the next day, month, how do I function? How do I then move forwards? 

‘I think that is death. To be stuck.’

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2025-11-19 04:53