Princess Opeyemi Bright, at 29 years old, has been inaugurated as the youngest-ever Mayor of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Her inauguration took place on May 16, 2025, following her election in March.
Princess Bright began her political career at the age of 22 when she was elected as the borough’s youngest-ever Labour councillor. Over the past seven years, she has served in various capacities, including as Chair of the Audit and Standards Committee. Outside of politics, she is a Chartered Accountant and has held positions in investment banking and as a Senior Operations Manager at Uber UK.
While ceremonial mayoral roles in the UK are often held by individuals with extensive experience, Princess Bright’s appointment at 29 makes her one of the youngest Black women to hold such a position in the country. Her achievement is particularly significant given the underrepresentation of young Black women in UK political leadership.
