From being the ‘official DJ’ to King Charles to raising millions for charitable ventures, and racking up millions of social media followers, Florence Otedola has built a powerful profile for herself.
She has been branded Queen of London’s Nigerian superset by Tatler – yet many people will be unfamiliar with her.
The 32-year-old daughter of billionaire energy tycoon Femi Otedola, one of Nigeria’s richest men who is reportedly worth some $1.5billion, has been on the social scene for over a decade.
Femi’s wealth has enabled his daughters to attend expensive private schools in England, including The King’s School in Canterbury, and be waited on by 10 members of staff.
As well as jet-setting between the opulent family properties around the world, they enjoy designer wardrobes and have thrown birthday parties that cost more than a fleet of supercars.
Indeed, Florence described her graduation bash as costing the same amount as ‘a few Lamborghinis’.
The Marie Antoinette-themed party at the lavish Mandarin Oriental hotel in London saw guests being served Michelin starred food on gold plates and enjoying Champagne fountains and indoor fireworks.
She said she chose the theme because: ‘I feel like I am this young woman with just so much responsibility and Marie Antoinette was Queen Of France at a young age, plus we both love dogs.’
At one time, Florence – who lives in a St Johns Wood mansion with her father – was best known for her love of pink and cupcakes (which inspired her stage name, DJ Cuppy, based on her childhood nickname), however, the socialite recently told Tatler that she is moving on from the old image.
She said: ‘Today it’s less cupcakes, more clarity. I still love pink, but I want the work I’m doing in philanthropy and education to speak louder than my colour.’
Like many, Florence felt like reached a turning point when she hit 30: gone was her all-pink image: her rosy locks were replaced with black or caramel-toned tresses, and her monochrome wardrobe replaced by clothes of many colours, from labels including Celine and Prada.
She told Tatler that it’s not about ‘leaving pink behind’, rather of ‘stepping into a deeper purpose’.
This isn’t a new ambition: speaking nearly 10 years ago, on the Channel 4 documentary Lagos To London, Britain’s New Super-Rich, Cuppy revealed that while her father may have extraordinary wealth, she still wants to be successful in her own right.
‘I am scared of always been his daughter and not getting past that, for me that means not being successful enough,’ she told the programme.
‘I am still masked by my dad’s success. If I didn’t try and make it outside Nigeria I would be unhappy.’
When it comes to academic pursuits, Florence has certainly excelled, with a Bachelor’s degree in business and French from King’s College London.
She has also earner three Master’s degrees including one in Music Business from New York University; one in African Studies from the University of Oxford, and one from LSE.
And her accomplishments don’t end there: the 32-year-old, whose ‘Pink Palace’ London penthouse once appeared on an episode of MTV show Cribs, has made major strides in the world of philanthropy.
As well as raising a record $17million donation for Save The Children, she is also the founder of the Cuppy Africa Oxford Scholars Fund.
She has been known to hobnob with King Charles on numerous occasions, thanks to being the King’s Trust first international ambassador.
It was during one of their meetings that the monarch affectionately referred to her as his ‘official DJ’.
It is these accomplishments, as well as her impressive roster of friends – who include MP Florence Eshalomi, rugby player Maro Itoje, and boxer Anthony Joshua – that have led to her being branded one of the capital’s most ‘cosmopolitan powerhouses’.
She lived in Lagos until she was 12-years-old, when she moved to the UK. However, she still spends a lot of time in her native Nigeria, which she in turn describes as the ‘powerhouse’ of Africa.
Cuppy has described London and Lagos as her ‘anchored places’, noting that ‘Lagos has ‘rhythm, a little bit of chaos, colour, possibility’ while London gives her ‘structure and a bit of polish’.
Florence credits splitting her upbringing between the two cities with shaping how she approaches life, telling Tatler: ‘Lagos taught me how to hustle but London taught me how to refine and what I think I’ve nailed, is knowing how to be fluid between both. Lagos, you’re eating Jollof rice – and London, it’s afternoon tea.’
And hustling is something she has certainly shown an aptitude for: after deciding she wanted to be a successful DJ, she went on to secure gigs around the world at venues including Privé, Jalouse, District and Funky Buddha.
Speaking during Channel 4’s documentary, she admitted that father’s fortune opened doors for her, and helped her network.
And she has to deal with criticism from those who think she has only had the opportunities in her career she has had so far due to her father’s connections and purse strings.
However, she noted, she had to prove her talent behind the decks to secure more work, saying: ‘I think I am a great DJ. Network comes into it but if I don’t do well I won’t get asked back no matter whose daughter I am.’
When it comes to accusations of nepotism, she has previously said: ‘People saying “this DJ is his so and so’s daughter” it doesn’t bother me anymore as I love what I do.
‘I only worry I am not going to make the impact I want to make,” she said as her gigs have included DJing at the inauguration of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari.
Her other gigs have included a private event for Sabrina and Idris Elba, as well as being coined the official DJ for the United Nations.
She has certainly continued to make her mark: several weeks ago, she was DJing at Lancaster House several weeks ago, at an event welcoming the Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the first African woman to be appointed Commonwealth Secretary- General.
A week after that, she was in Seattle to visit the headquarters of the Gates Foundation, having been appointed one of its 2025 Goalkeepers – a carefully chosen team who are committed to hitting the foundations worldwide targets.
Despite the accusations of nepotism, Cuppy does not shy away from the close bond she has with her father, and told Tatler that he is ‘probably’ her ‘best friend’.
The two moved into the St John’s Wood mansion during Covid, when Femi had been living at the Dorchester Hotel, but suddenly needed a house.
She is also very close with her mother Nana, who she describes as ‘the quiet strength behind everything I do’.
