“What day is it, Thursday or Friday?” Maya Jama asks.
Friday, I say.
“Excellent,” she says. “Finish of the week. Time for a drink.”
It’s 3pm. We each accept a big malbec.
The Love Island presenter can appear forbidding on the courting actuality present – 6ft in heels, dressed to the nines, strutting in slo-mo and inflicting each feminine and male contestants’ jaws to drop to the ground. However at the moment Jama is dressed-down attractive in tracksuit, trainers and a pinch of make-up. At 30, she is the place she dreamed of being as a baby – a TV common, Vogue covergirl, and getting paid a fortune for having enjoyable. She has grown up within the public eye, segueing from {the teenager} who offered the weekly music video countdown on JumpOff.TV and soccer reveals on Copa90 to being star presenter on actuality reveals about make-up, singing and courting. Now she’s about to make her debut as a choose on the surreal primetime hit The Masked Singer, the place celebrities sing in monumental fluffy disguises. Jama will exchange Rita Ora on the panel.
Success has been so seamless as to look inevitable. The truth, although, is it’s been something however – Jama has overcome quite a few hurdles to get the place she is at the moment. By the point she made her TV debut, she had survived extra trauma than most of us expertise in a lifetime.
And but on the identical time, Jama says, she isn’t shocked by her success. As a tot, she was informed that she was going to be a TV star. She couldn’t sing, wasn’t an incredible dancer, was slightly picket as an actor. However she has one thing about her. Name it a gifted character, in the best way that Ant and Dec or her hero Davina McCall have that “X issue”. Jama can speak to anybody; she makes individuals really feel comfy and joyful. She has received audiences over by managing to be each unobtainable and massively relatable, TV’s cool large sister.
A waiter delivers the wine to the desk. We’re in a fancy London resort, the place it seems a big glass of pink wine is half the scale of an everyday small. She appears to be like at it, disillusioned.
“We must always have gone to a pub. I didn’t have a say on this, in any other case I’d have taken you to a pub.”
The issue is, I say, your individuals mentioned you’d want safety if we went to a pub, so we opted for someplace extra upmarket. “Pah,” she says, “it’s simply the individuals behind me that mentioned posh place.” Does she actually need safety? “I am going to various pubs and I’m all proper. Folks come over and communicate to me, however they’re good. They in all probability mentioned it as a result of they didn’t need individuals to maintain coming over and interrupting the interview.”
Danielle, Jama’s publicist and good friend, is sitting on the desk subsequent to us, additionally consuming a glass of pink. “Cheers Danielle,” Jama says. “Clink clink, motherfucker!” She raises her glass and giggles.
Jama is far more than a presenter as of late. So many manufacturers use her face to promote their product – Gordon’s gin, Rimmel, Magnificence Works, Dolce and Gabbana. And now we’re starting to see the emergence of Maya the mogul. “I’m coming into my businesswoman period” she says. “Do you know I’m the co-owner of Sproud,” she says proudly. Sproud is Jama’s Swedish plant-based milk firm. After which there’s MIJ Masks. “D’you understand a lot about these?” she asks, placing me to the take a look at, then offering the reply earlier than I’ve time to get embarrassed. “MIJ Masks is my skincare model.” The face masks are additionally vegan. “They’re actually good, however we’ve taken them off the shelf for a minute as a result of we’re going to relaunch subsequent yr secretly in … someplace. I can’t say. So I’m going extra into that world of enterprise. I’m 30 now, I’ve acquired to start out considering a bit extra long run.” She’s not even talked about that she has teamed up with actor Idris Elba and musician Little Simz to provide Benedict Lombe’s play Shifters within the West Finish.
Was she at all times formidable? “Yeaaaah!” Jama says, as if how might she not be. “I used to be formidable. I simply knew I used to be going to be on telly as a result of everybody round me would say, ‘She’s going to be on telly at some point’ – my mum’s pals, lecturers, anybody we met on the road. They have been all like, ‘She’s acquired one thing.’ And since I heard it a lot, in fact I’m going to consider it.”
Did she know anybody who had been on TV? “No!” she says as if it’s one other daft query. But it surely didn’t make any distinction. “I had this instilled confidence from everybody else.”
Jama was named after the nice American author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Her Swedish-Scottish mom, Sadie, was studying her memoir, I Know Why the Caged Hen Sings, when she was pregnant together with her. In 2020, Jama named Angelou as her hero for Black Historical past Month, saying that she, like Sadie, taught her by no means to surrender and to give attention to the positives. Certainly one of her 4 tattoos says in Arabic: “Love such as you’ve by no means been damage, dance like no one’s watching.”
Though Jama was born in Bristol, she began faculty in Sweden, the place her youthful brother Omar was born. She was fluent in Swedish till the household returned to Bristol and Sadie stopped talking to her within the language. These days, she says, she will do a superb Swedish accent (she’s acquired a present for accents), however just isn’t so fluent within the precise language. As for her Somali, that’s restricted to the one sentence: “Come right here and sit down.”
Sadie, as soon as an aspiring actor, was solely 19 when Jama was born. The presenter refers to her mom as “Horny Sadie”, and says she’s at all times been the lifetime of the celebration. As for her father, he has been out and in of jail all through his grownup life. Extra in than out. Sadie did all kinds of jobs to maintain the household afloat, together with cleansing and dealing in fast-food joints. Jama and her mom have at all times been extremely shut – extra sisters, in some methods, than mom and daughter.
Jama had by no means recognized precisely what her dad had been in jail for till 2016, when she made a documentary about fathers who had been jailed and determined to research his background. She found that the majority of his convictions have been for violence, usually prompted by alcohol. On one event he was jailed for six years after virtually killing a person.
When she was seven, Sadie met Jama’s stepfather, and so they moved in collectively. He additionally had two youngsters, and so they went on to have her youngest brother, who’s now 15. On the age of 10, Jama determined to chop her father out of her life. Within the documentary, she decides to fulfill him after not seeing him for a decade and confront him about his failings. She by no means explains why she stopped seeing him, however we’re left to imagine it’s due to his criminality. Has she seen him since? “No,” she says. It’s attention-grabbing that your brother stored visiting him whilst you didn’t, I say. She nods. “Yeah, as a result of I knew a bit extra about what was occurring as a result of I used to be older. My dad was not good to my mum. And Omar didn’t see that. And that was extra of a purpose for me to cease speaking to him.” Did she inform him that was the rationale she had stopped seeing him? “No. I simply stopped visiting him. My aunties can be like, ‘Do you need to see your dad?’ And I’d be like: ‘No.’”
It’s straightforward to get the incorrect impression, although, she says. A lot of her childhood was great. She acquired on brilliantly together with her shut and prolonged household, together with her paternal aunts. She went to an area faculty that specialised within the performing arts, and have become all of the extra decided to interrupt into TV. Was she educational? “I used to be backside set for every thing. English, science and maths. I used to be the category clown 100%.” Was she a insurgent? “No. I didn’t actually insurgent as a result of I had a great, trustworthy relationship with my mum, whereas my pals that had strict dad and mom have been sneaking out and hiding issues.”
When she was 14 or 15, she auditioned for the teenager TV drama Skins, and virtually acquired the half. “If I’m actually trustworthy with you I didn’t get it as a result of I used to be too frigid to snog the boy correctly. He was going to be my boyfriend within the present, and I used to be shy. I used to be simply awkward, kissing somebody on digicam at that age. I used to be so awkward.” Till she was 16, she says, she was a tomboy. “No person believes it until they see the pictures. I used to be a late bloomer. When it comes to my femininity, I used to be a little bit of a ragamuffin. I used to be at all times with the boys, I wore a great deal of free clothes, didn’t have any boobs, wasn’t referred to as attractive ever in my life. I used to be like, ‘Maya’s acquired an awesome character, however she’s not scorching’ all through faculty. Then I developed, and it was like ‘Oh look, she’s saucy now!’”
Did boys begin to deal with her in another way? “I at all times used to say that if I fancied a boy I’ve acquired to speak to them for ages for them to fancy me cos they’re not going to fancy me for the way I look. I’ve acquired to make them love my character. After which I seen, I don’t actually need to talk and so they fancy me now.”
At 16, she skilled a life-defining love and loss. She began courting her first correct boyfriend, Rico Gordon. He was 4 years her senior, and so they had an instantaneous bond, not least due to their lineage. “He was half Swedish, half Jamaican, I used to be half Swedish, half Somali, and we acquired on immediately. He was my old flame.” They’d been courting for six months when Rico, who had hoped to be a instructor, was caught within the crossfire of a shootout between members of rival gangs. “There was an argument between two individuals he had nothing to do with. They began capturing at one another and he was down the street on the cellphone to me, and a bullet hit the ground and hit him.” Rico was killed.
It fully upended her life. “I don’t suppose you ever actually recover from one thing like that. You simply study to cope with it higher. I don’t suppose you’re ever going to get up if you happen to lose somebody you’re keen on and go, ‘I’m healed.’ It’s extra like with time it will get simpler to course of, simpler to talk about, simpler to cope with.”
She had been planning to maneuver to London to go to varsity and pursue a profession in TV. “I left Bristol the day he handed away to be together with his household and stayed at his home together with his mum.” Is she nonetheless in contact with Rico’s household? Her face lights up. “Sure, I’m tremendous shut together with his household. I took his youthful brother and my brother and all my pals to Ibiza this summer season for my thirtieth birthday.”
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Earlier than lengthy, she realised she couldn’t stick with Rico’s household for ever. Jama had an older contact in London, whom she moved in with. It was solely then that she found they have been hooked on crack. “They’d additionally had a boyfriend who had died once they have been youthful, and we have been tremendous shut. So I knew I used to be secure there in that they might by no means hurt me.” The surroundings, nonetheless, was something however secure. “I lived there for 2 years, however there was no fuel, no electrics. It was probably not an acceptable place for me to reside. I used to be round lots of stuff I shouldn’t have been round as a young person.” Did she take medicine then? “No I didn’t.” She laughs, unexpectedly. “That is one other factor. I might have been a crackhead, and that by no means occurred!”
Time for an additional drink. Jama insists on getting this spherical. Blimey, you’ve been by means of some shit, I say. “Yeah, I’ve had a few conditions! It’s like one thing that occurs in movies. I didn’t know anyone who had handled something like that at the moment.” The factor about adversity, she says, is that it’s a take a look at of character. “It impacts you a method or one other. It may fully damage your life and also you by no means get well, otherwise you get this bizarre sense of resilience, which makes you suppose, ‘Fuck, I must do every thing I mentioned I used to be going to do and obtain every thing I can as a result of life can change any second.’ And thank God I had that strategy. Each dialog I had with Rico, I’m going to do as a result of I don’t know what’s going to occur subsequent week, so let me simply go!”
And go she did. Once more, she talks about conditions hardly ever being black or white. Within the midst of the tragedy and chaos of her life, her plans have been starting to return to fruition. “As a lot as so many horrible issues have been occurring, I used to be additionally coming into environments and conditions that made me really feel I used to be heading in the right direction to getting someplace in my profession. So whereas I used to be residing in that home, I used to be working at City Outfitters and in a costume store, I used to be at school and I used to be additionally serving to out at no cost at this YouTube manufacturing firm.” At lunchtime, she’d borrow a digicam and head off to reside occasions and blag an interview each time she might. “I’d go, ‘Pleeeeease can I interview you, I’m making an attempt to construct up my YouTube channel.’ So there was craziness occurring at dwelling, however I used to be working a lot I wasn’t actually there, and I used to be so excited simply to be in these environments. I’d be like, ‘Oh my God, there’s Wiley or so and so in the identical room as me!’”
She was making so many new contacts and pals. Did she inform them about all of the dangerous stuff in her life? “No, I didn’t inform anyone. I used to lie. After I met individuals for the primary time, I’d be like, ‘Oh yeah, I simply got here from Bristol.’ I didn’t need to get into every thing with individuals I’d simply met. Even individuals I’m nonetheless pals with now keep in mind they’d say ‘Let’s go to your home,’ and I’d be like, ‘No, somebody’s sick who lives at dwelling.’” She pauses. “Effectively, I’m not going to convey individuals from school to a home the place there’s medicine all over the place.” And she or he didn’t need to inform individuals about what had occurred to Rico as a result of she didn’t need it to form their perspective to her. “I don’t like individuals feeling sorry for me. I don’t like pity. It doesn’t make me really feel comfy.”
After learning performing arts at Westminster Kingsway Faculty, Jama joined MTV in 2014 to current music present The Wrap Up. Earlier than lengthy she discovered herself invited on to chatshows, internet hosting awards ceremonies and co-presenting gameshows.
As had been predicted so a few years earlier, she was a pure – a born chatter, curious, relaxed and likable. The TV gigs turned larger and extra prestigious. In 2020, she co-presented Peter Crouch: Save Our Summer time, a present designed to make up for the frustration of the cancelled Euros through the pandemic (Jama loves her soccer, and is a “garbage” Bristol Rovers fan however is genuinely dedicated to West Ham). Then in 2021, she changed Stacey Dooley on Glow Up: Britain’s Subsequent Make-Up Star. And in 2022 she acquired the massive one, taking up from Laura Whitmore on Love Island.
After all, this type of success comes at a worth. For Jama, that’s been a public obsession with who she chooses to this point. Between 2014 and 2019, she was in a relationship with the rapper Stormzy. Then she was briefly engaged to the basketball star Ben Simmons. Jama says her relationship with Simmons taught her how tough long-term relationships have been, and that she wasn’t but prepared for marriage. “It was only a whirlwind romance, and I hadn’t finished lots of the issues I wished to do. I hadn’t finished Love Island, I hadn’t finished the duvet of Vogue. I had so many profession goals I wished to attain earlier than getting married.” I ask if Simmons is as tall as Stormzy, who’s 6ft 4in. She provides me an are-you-kidding look.“Ben is 6ft 10in.” Can I ask a technical query? “Go on,” she says. Is it laborious to kiss any individual that tall? “Have you ever by no means seen any movies? Hahaha! Somebody bends and somebody doesn’t. I feel individuals make it work, height-difference clever. I’m fairly tall – 5ft 8, and I often put on heels.”
At instances throughout her relationship with Simmons, she discovered herself alone in New York and in want of a good friend. She tells me of the event when she was caught in a resort, and walked out into the road within the early afternoon in the hunt for a light-weight for a cigarette and a chat. “I requested for a light-weight from this man who was in his late‑50s doing development. He gave me a light-weight and we have been having a chat, and I used to be like ‘D’you need to go to the pub?’ And he was like, ‘What?! I can’t go to the pub with you, are you severe?!’ I used to be like, ‘I actually don’t have any pals right here, my accomplice’s at work.’” Why did he suppose he couldn’t go to the pub with you? “I used to be all glamorous and strolling down the street in my outfit, and I came upon he lived in a hostel and was homeless on the time, and we bonded. He finally allowed me to take him to the pub, and we ended up spending six to eight hours collectively. His title was John, and he stored making an attempt to depart. He stored saying, ‘I really feel like I’m taking your time up.’ And I used to be like, ‘NO.’ John had no thought who I used to be, which was nice. I simply wished normality and any individual I might go to the pub with.”
After a few drinks, she says, he relaxed. What was his tipple? “I used to be having tequila ginger beer, and I mentioned attempt a type of, so we ended up on the tequila ginger beers. His dad and mom had been arrested when he was younger, and I mentioned I’ve acquired a dad in jail, properly out and in of jail. We ended up sharing all these tales. He was beautiful. We stayed in contact.”
Jama has mentioned she’s by no means been single lengthy sufficient to be a Love Island contestant. How lengthy has she been single now? “Since July.” Who was your final accomplice? “That was Michael half two.” She begins once more. “Stormzy half two.” What number of instances have they cut up up? “Twice. Solely twice.” Will there be a Stormzy half three? “No, I feel we’re joyful on this friendship zone.” The general public appeared invested within the success of their relationship. Why does she suppose they have been such a well-liked couple? “I feel it’s good that individuals love him for being cute and love me for being cute, and when two individuals you want come collectively then individuals get excited by it. That’s simply what occurs within the superstar world, don’t you suppose?” Does that create pressures? “No, as a result of I don’t learn that stuff. I don’t have a look at it. Anyone I date goes to be a factor for the time being. As a result of all people I’m seen with – any good friend, or my cousin lately – it’s Maya and the thriller man, so I can’t be seen with any man publicly with out the media making a narrative of it.”
Love Island wasn’t a simple gig – by the point Jama joined it had change into one in every of TV’s most controversial actuality franchises. Whereas former presenter Caroline Flack took her personal life after an incident unrelated to the programme, two former contestants killed themselves shortly after showing on it. It has been steered that such an exposing present will inevitably lead to some contestants having psychological well being issues. Does she fear about them? “Sure. I do really feel protecting of the islanders simply because most of them are round my age, and I feel, ‘Bloody hell, if I used to be in there.’” Is there adequate safeguarding? “I do suppose ITV now does a very good job. There are such a lot of checks. There’s a psychiatrist on set at any level. They go the additional mile now to verify persons are properly taken care of. They’ve made a acutely aware effort to ensure that if anyone has any points they’ll communicate to psych, they’ll speak to producers at any level, so sure I’m protecting of them.”
As for The Masked Singer, she tells me how a lot she has at all times liked it, and what a deal with it’s to be a choose on the upcoming sequence. “I’ve by no means been ‘Wow!’ about who will get revealed. I similar to the singing and the costumes. It’s good vibes. I adore it as a household present. As a result of I do Love Island and reveals which might be catered to a special crowd, I wished to do one thing that my pals and their children might watch, stuff my household might watch at dwelling, and reveals which might be a bit extra healthful.”
The spotlight for her is fellow choose Jonathan Ross. “You already know the very best factor to return out of it’s our friendship. He’s one in every of my favorite. People. Ever.”
The waiter approaches urgently. I feel he might need simply clocked who Jama is. He speaks quietly, intensely … “I’m going to want this desk again in 4 or 5 minutes. I’m sorry,” he says. Bingo! I say. Complete non-recognition. “That’s a outcome isn’t it? I don’t have any clout right here,” she says fortunately.
I ask if she will see herself retiring from public life and having children at some point. “Yeah. However I additionally extra desire a household than simply need youngsters. Due to the best way I used to be raised and it being everywhere, I’m very acutely aware that if I’m going to start out a household I need it to be with the precise individual. I need it to be one which lasts for ever. However yeah, I do think about myself with children at some point.”
Some time in the past, I learn that she mentioned she hoped to retire on the age of 40. No, she says, that’s not fairly proper. “What I mentioned to my monetary advisers is: ‘May I retire at 40, the best way I’m going?’ They usually mentioned sure. Which is nice. However I’m the breadwinner of my household, so being the older sibling and being the one on this profession, I pay everybody’s payments and I give all people cash, so it’s fairly a duty.”
We stand up to depart. “Effectively, be good about me!” she says. Why would I need to say something horrible about you? “I think about, ‘I favored Maya once I was in individual together with her, however she’s a shit host. Hahaha!” Does she actually fear about what individuals suppose? “No. I feel I’m a pleasant individual, so I don’t fear.”
That’s on the root of every thing, she says. “I’m good to everybody I meet. If everybody was good to everybody, perhaps we would not have as a lot fuckery. I’m beautiful until somebody’s horrible.” What’s she like then? “For those who’re horrible, I’m like: ‘Oh fuck off then.’ There’s a Tupac lyric that claims, ‘I ain’t a killer however don’t push me.’” And with that, she provides me a hug and heads off into the world, laughing.
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