Maya Jama has opted to quit BBC’s Glow Up: Britain’s Next Makeup Star, and Leomie Anderson has taken her place for the fifth series.
The 30-year-old takes over the competition, which was formerly hosted by Stacey Dooley, in which amateur makeup artists live and work together while competing in tasks to show their abilities.
Leomie had to fill some large shoes after fan favourite Maya, but she did it smoothly in her first show.
Viewers of the show have praised her hosting abilities.
One viewer wrote: ‘I was sad @MayaJama left but as her career’s gone from strength to strength and @Leomie_Anderson so deserved a presenting platform with her charismatic effervescence I guess it’s an all-round happy ending!’
They are correct – Maya, 28, is now the host of Love Island.
‘I didn’t know @Leomie_Anderson well enough to know how she’d handle presenting, but she’s doing well on this first outing.
‘Seeing her instinctively push back on one competitor describe their own salon work as generic tells me she’s the right fit for the show,’ added another.
Leomie appreciated the encouragement and responded with: ‘Thank you for this! Had big shoes to fill but hope you enjoy what I bring to the series.’
A third person tweeted: ‘Brava to the new host.’
Another simply put: ‘How good is @Leomie_Anderson? Brilliant in my opinion!’
#glowupbbc I was sad @MayaJama left but as her career’s gone from strength to strength and @Leomie_Anderson so deserved a presenting platform with her charismatic effervescence I guess it’s an all round happy ending!
— Sarah Morgan (@sajamor) May 2, 2023
I love it. And I didn’t know @Leomie_Anderson well enough to know how she’d handle presenting, but she’s doing well on this first outing. Seeing her instinctively push back on one competitor describe their own salon work as “generic†tells me she’s the right fit for the show.
— Scott Matthewman (@scottm) May 2, 2023
Just when I needed it, #GlowUpBBC appeared back on the TV. Brava to the new host too, the stunning @Leomie_Anderson. 🖤
— GothBoyUK – Any respectful pronouns. 🇪🇺ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆ (@GothboyUK) May 2, 2023
How good is @Leomie_Anderson? Brilliant in my opinion!
— Andrew Breading ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ (@abwales4) May 2, 2023
Leomie, who will be joined on the show by specialists Val Garland and Dominic Skinner, has previously spoken about feeling excluded from the beauty industry.
‘Growing up, I didn’t think make-up was made for black girls. In the fashion industry, this was just reiterated to me in a different way,’ Leomie explained to BBC Three.
She remembers needing to bring her own’basic equipment’ to works since the crew would frequently be without her shade.
‘I was othered. It made me feel like an afterthought.’
This has meant that the new hosting gig is even more important to her: ‘I know the impact of having make-up on that doesn’t make you feel the best. So, this is a big moment for me.’
Glow Up airs every Tuesday at 8pm on BBC Three, and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer on Wednesday mornings.
