BBC Strictly's Claudia Winkleman's jaw-dropping look before iconic fringe and fake tan

Claudia Winkleman used to look very different (Image: WireImage)

Strictly Come Dancing's Claudia Winkleman is renowned for her consistent signature style. The host has maintained the same blunt, chunky fringe and mid-length brunette hair for years, typically worn straight but occasionally styled into gentle waves.

Claudia, 52, consistently pairs her iconic hairstyle with dark eyeliner and fake tan, with her once admitting she "can't imagine ever getting rid of it".

In a light-hearted chat with Hello! magazine, she quipped: "I haven't seen my forehead for about 15 years. I don't even know what's under my fringe - there could be squirrels, parrots - I've got no idea."

However, a clip from Good Morning in 1996 revealed a very different young Claudia, featuring significantly longer brunette hair with natural highlights and a side parting, reports the Mirror.

But, Claudia feels most content today, confessing that it took her years to feel comfortable in her own skin. "There is something amazing about your late 40s," the Traitors presenter reflected a few years ago.

Claudia is known for her full fringe and thick eyeliner (Image: WireImage)

"In my 20s I was a bit angsty, in my 30s it was all about babies. But my 40s have been great, my late 40s even better."

The star, known for her high/low dressing style on Strictly, usually opts for black outfits, complementing her dark hair and makeup look.

Claudia is known for her savvy fashion choices, often mixing designer pieces with high street finds and pre-loved items. She recently sported a £20 blouse from H&M and even donned a second-hand Victoria Beckham dress found on Amazon.

Claudia Winkleman in Italy for a beach holiday in 2000 (Image: BBC)

Despite her stylish reputation, Claudia often jokes about her look, comparing herself to a "male mature French student who's 52 and on his way to a physics lecture". She also quipped that her hair was the "least of her worries", adding: "That's what I'm holding onto, everything else has gone to pot."

The Strictly host is also known for her love of fake tan, once joking: "I am burnt orange," and admitting she felt better when she was "orange".

"I will use anything for my fake tan. I would use gravy. I have used mud before. I will use a brown Sharpie." She added: "I don't think anybody should hold judgment. I have three tans a week for goodness sake."

Claudia hasn't always had her fringe (Image: BBC)

However, Claudia confessed that her fake tan routine wasn't always flawless. She compared her first visit to a tanning booth to a famous Friends episode where Ross gets sprayed in the eyes three times.

Speaking to Get The Gloss in 2020, she said: "You've seen the episode of Friends when Ross gets sprayed in the eyes three times in a row and ends up the colour of teak?

"My experience was worse. I had NEON hands and a very patchy face. Nice."