Maya Jama

Overview

Maya Indea Jama is a British television, radio and digital presenter. Born Aug. 14, 1994, in Bristol, she built her career through MTV, BBC Radio 1 and a run of entertainment shows before becoming one of the UK’s most visible reality-TV hosts.

Jama moved to London as a teenager to work in entertainment. Early credits included JumpOff TV and MTV’s The Wrap Up. She hosted the MOBO Awards with Marvin Humes in 2017, presented on BBC Radio 1, and fronted series including 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 2023 she succeeded Laura Whitmore as host of ITV’s Love Island. Over the next three years she fronted nine series across the main show, Aftersun, Love Island Games and Love Island: All Stars. ITV later called her “a fantastic and much loved host.”

On Nov. 8, 2026, Jama announced on Instagram that she was stepping down, writing that it was “my time to throw myself into something new” and that she would cheer the show on “from the sidelines forever.” The exit followed her run as a contestant on the BBC’s The Celebrity Traitors. No replacement host had been named when she posted.

Pop Culture Pit’s coverage of her departure is linked below.

Last updated November 8, 2026