Chung was first scouted by an agency, Elite Model Management, while attending The Clothes Show at the age of 14, but nothing came of it. She was approached again, at Reading Festival, at the age of 16 years and was taken on by the London-based agency, Storm Model Management. She was a cover girl for teen magazines such as Elle Girl and CosmoGIRL! and appeared in adverts for products including Fanta, Sony Ericsson, Sunsilk and Tampax. She also modelled for Urban Outfitters. Chung later said, “I was willing to look like a bit of an idiot. I was never too precious about the faces I pulled. I did loads of teen magazines and rubbish high street campaigns.” She recalled that, "The worst job by far was when I had to straddle a massive loo roll in a factory in Finland, wearing just my underwear. It was for Now magazine. I was supposed to be playing the sexy secretary but the other model started crying, saying her boyfriend would go mad if she appeared in just her underwear and could we possibly switch roles. That was a very low point." She appeared in music videos for artists including The Streets, Westlife, Delta Goodrem, Reuben and, famously, shared an on-screen lesbian kiss with Holly Valance – an experience she later described as “a bit rank”. She also starred as Jake in a scripted reality show called Shoot Me, broadcast on Fashion TV in 2005. Chung herself admitted it was “really bad”.
After four years, Chung quit modelling with the intention of beginning an art foundation or fashion journalism course, having become disillusioned. This was partly because of the commercial nature of the work she was being offered. “They’d say, “Yeah, well, we’re going to be a bit edgy and try and make it look like a Chloé shoot.” “Why wasn’t I on the actual Chloé shoot?” However, it was mainly due to the “distorted body image” and “low self-esteem” modelling had given her. “It made me really unhappy.” She has since said that, “I’ve used up all that neurosis – there’s none left. I’d rather have a bigger brain than smaller bones.”
In January 2008, Chung was announced as the face of Antipodium's Spring Summer 2008 collection, which is on sale in Liberty and Harvey Nichols.
Chung first auditioned as a T4 presenter when she was 18 but “didn’t get anywhere because I was hideously Hampshire, going “Ya, ya”, and thinking I was really funny”.
When the original Popworld presenters, Miquita Oliver and Simon Amstell left in 2006, Chung’s audition tape was reviewed and, in April 2006, she was offered the job of co-host, alongside former MTV presenter Alex Zane. Popworld was known for its witty, irreverent and awkward style of interviews. An interview Chung conducted with Panic at the Disco, in particular, attracted attention. “I corrected singer Brendon Urie’s grammar halfway through and then it all went a bit cold. He got pi**ed off after that. The clip is on YouTube and about 10,000 American kids have left comments saying: ‘Oh my God, who does she think she is? I hate the English.’ Which is amusing.” Other memorable moments include Chung asking Gwen Stefani whether her new "surprising" perfume would smell like bacon and helping Paul McCartney compose a song about shoes. The last show aired in July 2007, after Channel 4 decided not to recommission the programme.
Chung and Zane also presented a weekly, internet-streamed radio show called Popworld Radio from September 2006 to May 2007, in conjunction with the TV programme.
In April 2007, Chung starred in the ITV1 series Get a Grip, opposite comedian Ben Elton. The topical satirical show was scripted by Elton. Chung was unfazed by the move from music television to political satire, saying "He'll tell me about Margaret Thatcher and I'll hit him with some facts about Razorlight". The show was panned by the critics.
In August 2007, Chung signed a year-long "golden handcuffs" deal with Channel 4, worth £100,000. As part of this deal, she appeared as a panellist on quiz show 8 out of 10 Cats, guest presented Big Brother’s Big Mouth and presented T4’s coverage of V Festival, T in the Park and T4 on the Beach. She has also hosted a number of T4 Movie Specials, 4Music Specials, along with T4 Holiday Mornings.
In Autumn 2007, Chung began presenting Channel 4’s early morning music programme Freshly Squeezed, with alternating co-hosts Nick Grimshaw and Rick Edwards. The show airs on weekdays at 7am.
In December 2007, she was at number 18 in Broadcast's Hot 100 Talent list.
In January 2008, Chung became one of four anchor T4 presenters, following the departure of June Sarpong.
Chung was the host of T4’s Vanity Lair, a ten-week reality show that aimed to explore contemporary notions of what being a beautiful person really means.
She is the presenter of BBC Three's The Wall, along with Rhys Thomas. The live show features comedy, sketches, chat and music performances and is aired on Tuesday nights at 11pm.
Chung has also hosted industry events including the Hair Magazine Awards 2007, Diesel U Music Awards 2007 and the Elle Style Awards 2008.
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