There’s a reason Maya Jama was the most popular choice to take over as the host of Love Island: there might be no better fit for the format. Boisterous and unfiltered, a celestial beauty with a down-to-earth personality, it’s easy to imagine Jama winning the show as a contestant (she already had the PrettyLittleThing collaboration). But if we can’t watch her cringe her way through challenges or get her grafting boots on, seeing her as host is the next best thing.
Jama could not be more prepared. “I’ve been a fan of the show pretty much since it started,” she says. “I know everything about it.” So much so, it could get in the way of doing the actual job. Maya confesses she’ll have to resist the urge to “give all the advice” to contestants. “My role is to deliver information and facts but, because I love it so much, I just want to be their best mate and be like, ‘Are you sure you really like that guy?’,” she laughs. “I’ll be as involved as I can.”
Speaking over Zoom from Johannesburg, where they’re warming up for the winter edition of the hit reality show, she’s had to pinch herself a few times. “As soon as I opened the doors and saw that love heart entrance – it was like stepping onto the set of your favourite film.” Would she ever have considered entering as a contestant? “I don’t think I’ve ever been single long enough to go on a dating show…” she ponders. “If they had asked me in my early twenties, I probably would have been like, yeah, why not?”
Born to a Somali father and Swedish mother, Jama will be the first non-white host of Love Island. For a show that has been accused of a tokenistic approach to casting, and in which Black women haven’t always had the easiest ride, Maya’s arrival genuinely feels like a big breath of fresh air. “Growing up, I never saw an East African woman host a show, and no Black or mixed-race woman hosts such a big primetime TV show, other than June Sarpong. This is definitely a big moment for all of us in that sense, and I hope it just opens way more doors for other people from similar backgrounds and cultures as myself,” says Jama.
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The star was initially drawn to presenting because “I didn’t have any other skills than talking”, she jokes. A self-described “proper people person”, Jama says: “I could talk to anyone, at any time of day, from any walk of life, and really enjoy finding out about new people… I’m like, how does that turn into a job?” While her experience of the high-profile relationships and red carpets that often go hand-in-hand with fame are well-documented, Jama’s journey to in-demand host was far from gilded. As she described in a previous Vogue interview, her estranged father was in and out of prison during her childhood; it was after tragedy befell her first boyfriend that she made her way to London, and she endured some harrowing experiences in early jobs, a period when she’d “just put on a face and pretend everything was alright”.
Now, Jama’s new gig fronting the Glastonbury of reality TV will take her from Gen Z favourite to household name. “I’m super grateful for all of those people that were screaming my name on Twitter over those years – that is literally the reason I’m here. I just want to be what they want me to be. I hope I do everyone justice.” And what’s left for Maya to dream up next? “God, I don’t even know… I’m just happy to be here.”
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Below, the presenter shares her favourite Love Island moments, and some of her own dating exploits.
What is your all time favourite challenge?
Casa Amor never fails. There’s always going to be drama and it’s a situation that most people in real life half get put in – when your partner goes on a lads’ or girls’ holiday right at the beginning – but you never find out what happens. In Love Island, you actually get to find out.
What are some of your favourite Love Island moments?
Maura was one of my favourite ever contestants – it’s just great to see a powerful, opinionated woman on screen. She’s an ultimate G. I loved Megan Barton-Hanson when she came and just rattled everything. Georgia’s reaction when Josh brought Kaz back in, because no one expected him to bring someone back. Chris and Kem – that whole series was one of my favourites. Mainly personalities have stuck out. We get some legends from Love Island.
Which Islander would you be most like as a contestant?
I’d be a mix of Maura and Ekin-Su. Maura’s outspoken and I’m a bit fiery myself, but then Ekin-Su’s a Leo like me, so I probably would be like: “Let me just bring some drama, because everyone’s chilling out too much.”
What’s your type on paper?
I don’t have a type on paper – if you look at my exes, they’re all quite different. The only similarity is they’re tall, I suppose, the only common denominator is height. I’m quite tall so I like people who are taller than me.
Do you ever make the first move?
Yeah, always, pretty much.
Really?!
No, not always, but if I like someone, I tell them. I’m not gonna hide my feelings, I’ll make it obvious. I’ve got this silly quote that I live by: if you love someone, tell them, because hearts are often left broken with words left unspoken. It just cuts out the rubbish bit if you’re like, “I like you”. If they like you too, you get it moving, if they don’t like you, you stop wasting your time.
How do you play the “talking” stage?
I’m a friend-zoner. That’s my technique: I friend-zone everyone I fancy, and act like I’m not interested so I can suss them out as much as possible, find out how they are, and let them let their guard down a little bit. Then, either they make it out of the friend-zone stage because I still like them, or they don’t and you just stay my friend.
Good test.
It can go left though – if you take too long, they can end up with someone else, so you’ve got to time it well.
Do you keep your cards close to your chest or are you open-hearted?
I’m quite open. I’m a very impulsive person, so if I feel something, I can’t really hide it too much. Unless it’s in the friend-zone stage where I’m being strict on myself to keep it friends only. But once I’ve sussed you out, I’m all in. I’m like, “Okay, look, I like you. What are we up to? Do you wanna be my boyfriend?” Let’s keep it moving.
Do you ask them?
I’ve never asked someone to be my boyfriend, but I’ve made it very clear that I won’t really go to the next stage unless we’re exclusive. I’m like: “You need to make it clear what you want, otherwise we’re not moving any further than this peck on the cheek vibe.” Wife me or fuck off, basically!
What do you look for in a partner?
Kindness. Someone I can have a laugh with. I need to know that if we got trapped in a lockdown or something, I’m not gonna get bored. I need to feel you’re my friend more than anything – to fancy you on top is just a bonus. And I have to respect them. I want to look up to you for something. So either I feel you are super smart, or you’re good at whatever job you do, or that I can learn something.
How do you want to be approached?
I don’t like getting moved to! I like the one in the corner that doesn’t move to anyone.
What advice has most changed your dating life?
Get to know someone as much as you can before you get intimate. If you just suss someone out before the romantic stuff comes in, usually it lasts longer, from my experience.
