Entertainment

Maya Jama’s Bristol Roots and Rise to TV Stardom

By Today News Hours Editorial Desk

Maya Jama, now 32, grew up in Bristol’s St Paul’s area and later moved to Cotham and Redland, attending Cotham School. Born in 1994 to a Swedish mother, Sadie, and a younger brother, Omar, she spent time in Sweden as a child and often returned for family holidays. She recalled performing in the front room of her council house, charging family members 20p to watch her dance and sing. Her mother worked multiple jobs to support the family, and free school meals were a significant help during her childhood.

At 16, Jama moved to London to pursue a career in entertainment. She began by presenting a weekly music video countdown for JumpOff TV, then joined MTV in 2014 as a presenter on The Wrap Up. She worked in radio, including Rinse FM, and later presented for BBC Radio 1 in 2018.

Her television career accelerated when she became the youngest host of the MOBO Awards in 2017, co‑presenting with Marvin Humes. She went on to host Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer, ITV2’s Don’t Hate the Playaz, and BBC Three’s Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make‑Up Star in 2021.

In 2023, Jama took over as host of ITV’s Love Island, becoming a familiar face across the UK. She has since presented further editions, including Love Island: All Stars. More recently, she appeared on BBC One’s The Celebrity Traitors, reaching the final before being eliminated at the last round table.

Jama’s journey from a council‑house child in Bristol to one of the country’s biggest television personalities highlights her early ambition, family support, and the opportunities she seized in London.