6 times Claudia Winkleman has looked unrecognisable, from wearing no eyeliner to having streaky blonde hair
The Queen of The Traitors turret hasn't always had a signature look...
Claudia Winkleman is one of those rare TV personalities who's instantly recognisable – thanks, in no small part, to her trademark look. The thick fringe, the orange tan, the glossy dark hair: it's a beauty combination so distinct it's practically become her brand.
But what if we told you there was a time when the Queen of eyeliner looked nothing like the Claudia we know and love today? Long before her days behind the mysterious Traitors turret, the presenter experimented with everything from streaky blonde highlights to barely-there makeup looks that are almost unrecognisable today.
Whether it's a throwback red carpet snap or a behind-the-scenes moment, these rare glimpses prove that Claudia's beauty evolution has been far more adventurous than you might expect. Here, we look back at six times the nation's favourite TV host looked completely different – and of course, just as fabulous.
Without her iconic eyeliner
In June 2025, Claudia shared a photo without her iconic eyeliner to praise her doctor for her eye surgery at the time – and to no surprise, the picture took the media by storm!
"He’s operated on my eyes before and he did it again today. No eyeliner for weeks and I sleep in goggles (no words) but I’m eternally grateful. Do NOT zoom in on my left eye - it’s wonky. Thank you Julian. I paid for the treatment, this isn’t an ad. I just love him. It’s very possible I’m still a bit sedated. Night night," she wrote in the caption of her post.
With dark blonde hair
This 1996 throwback shows Claudia in her early 20s sharing tips on pulling power with the BBC. As the video shows, before the fringed locks and black eyeliner, she rocked a fresh-faced look accompanied by dark blonde hair!
With streaky highlights
The early 2000s were a time of streaky blonde highlights, a trend in which Claudia, too, followed. Here she is in 2005 sporting chest-length brunette tresses with fine strips of bleached hair.
With curtain bangs
You may think of Sabrina Carpenter as the pioneer of curtain bangs, but before the blonde American bombshell, there came Claudia circa 2007. Here she is wearing her parted fringe at the premiere of Stardust in Los Angeles.
With a bob
Claudia Winkleman? With a bob? I'd never have guessed! But here's the picture to prove it! The Digital Spy Reality TV Awards, April 6, 2009. You just had to be there...
Without a tan
Claudia is so into tanning that she once admitted on the BBC panel show 'Would I Lie To You?' that she used gravy granules when filming on the set of The Traitors. "I didn’t have my normal fake tan there because I was in the castle, so what I thought was, ‘Let’s just use something!’ [...] I don’t think I’m allowed to say a brand, but it was gravy granules," she shared.
So, in honour of her bronzed glow, here she is without it!
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
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