Maya Jama, the charismatic presenter known for hosting Love Island, has shared a poignant story about her early years and the challenges she faced with her accent after relocating from Bristol to London. Celebrating her 31st birthday on August 14, Maya reflected on how she once tried to suppress her native Bristolian accent to avoid being mocked.
Growing up in Bristol, where Maya was known as the “class clown” during her school days, she embraced her heritage with humor and charm. However, upon moving to London to pursue her showbiz ambitions, she encountered difficulties with her distinctive accent.
In a candid conversation on The Straight Up podcast, Maya revealed, “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 described the resulting mix: “Now it’s like when I go back to Bristol I’m like: ‘Alright my love,’ and when I’m here in London, I’m like: ‘Hi, anyway.’ So it’s still a bit confused.”
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Maya’s educational journey is equally international, beginning in Sweden due to her mother’s Swedish roots before she returned to Bristol. She has often embraced her Bristol upbringing, candidly discussing her school days where she was “bottom set” in subjects like English, science, and maths, but always the life of the class.
Her media career kicked off in 2014 with Rinse FM in London, moving to BBC Radio 1 in 2018 for two years, before transitioning to television. Maya has since become a familiar face, hosting Soccer Aid and taking over from Laura Whitmore as Love Island’s presenter in 2023.
Yet behind her success lies a tragic chapter in her life. Maya revealed she left Bristol under harrowing circumstances after the death of her first love, Rico Gordon. Caught in the crossfire of a gang dispute, Rico lost his life unexpectedly. Maya recounted 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 when a bullet hit the floor and struck him.”
Describing how she coped with the loss, Maya said, “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 like with time it gets easier to process and talk about.”
Maya Jama’s journey has been one of resilience — navigating cultural identity, personal loss, and career growth, all while staying true to herself in the spotlight.