Maya Jama, the popular Love Island host, has revealed why she tried to hide her South West accent when she moved to London. Celebrating her 31st birthday on August 14, Maya shared memories of her upbringing in Bristol, where she was known as the “class clown” during her school days.
After relocating to London to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, Maya found herself struggling with her distinctive Bristolian accent. On The Straight Up podcast, she explained: “I had a really weird confused accent for a while because it was still really Bristolian. I was trying to sound London because people would take the piss, so it was all over the place.”
She added with a smile, “Now it’s like when I go back to Bristol I’m like: ‘Alright my love,’ and when I’m here (London), I’m like: ‘Hi, anyway.’ So it’s still a bit confused.”
Maya’s early years were spent partly in Sweden due to her mother’s Swedish roots before settling back in Bristol. She has often spoken candidly about her school years, describing herself as the class clown and being in the lowest sets for subjects like English, science, and maths. Unlike some peers, Maya attributes her good relationship with her mother as a reason she didn’t rebel during her youth.
Her media career began in 2014 at London’s Rinse FM, followed by a stint at BBC Radio 1 starting in 2018. Since then, Maya has become a familiar face on television, hosting high-profile events like Soccer Aid and stepping into the role of Love Island presenter in 2023.
Beyond her career, Maya has opened up about a deeply tragic event that changed her life—the death of her first love, Rico Gordon. Rico was tragically killed in gang-related violence in Bristol, an incident that forced Maya to leave the city suddenly. She recalls to The Guardian: “There was an argument between two people he had nothing to do with. They started shooting at each other, and he was down the road on the phone to me, and a bullet hit the floor and hit him.”
Maya reflects on the lasting impact of this loss: “I don’t think you ever really get over something like that. You just learn to deal with it better. You don’t suddenly wake up healed — it’s more that with time it becomes easier to process, speak about, and manage.”
Through sharing her story, Maya Jama reveals the resilience behind her polished public persona—a journey shaped by personal hardship, cultural identity, and determination to succeed.