Emotional ties: Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo on Oprah, Prince and her dad

Clara Amfo

Meeting Oprah at a film premiere after a day filming MasterChef was one of the top moments of my life. She has such a powerful but humble presence – if I achieve even one-hundredth of what she’s done in her lifetime, I’ll be content.

A friend made this gold necklace for me when my father Emmanuel, known as Manny, passed away in 2015. I try to remember to be like him – he was a gregarious Gemini, like me, but dignified, with integrity, and didn’t suffer fools gladly.

This ‘class photo’ from 2014 – about three haircuts ago! – was taken the year I was made the host of the BBC Radio 1 chart show. It reminds me of what an intense, bizarre but amazing time of my life that was. Every day I’m excited about what I get to do.

I collect fridge magnets to remind me of where I’ve been. This one is from a recent trip to New York. I love the city’s frantic-ness. It’s fun to run around finding the locations where some of my favourite music videos were shot. I’ve dubbed it #rnbtourism.

I bought this Prince T-shirt the week before he died in 2016. Every time I wear it during a [Radio 1] Live Lounge, someone – such as the girls from Haim – wants to take it, but I always say no! I saw him perform four times; I was a massive fan.

This is me with my mum’s mother, Christina, in 1984, the year I was born. She lives in Ghana, so I don’t see her often and her English is a little broken, but we have a nice energy and connection between us. She has the most beautiful skin.

I ran the Paris half-marathon with friends in 2016 and 2017, but this year no one did it with me. It poured with rain and I lost my way, but I was so proud of seeing it through alone. Running is a good way to relax and re-focus.

This print of Lauryn Hill, made by my friend, the designer Ted Pearce, was the first thing I hung in my flat when I moved in four years ago. Seeing this beautiful black woman on stage and screen made me feel good about myself and her music changed my life.