After winning over fans this series, Maya Jama has one last job to do: present the Winter Love Island final 2023.
Laura Whitmore shocked Love Island fans in August 2022 when she announced she would not return to host the popular ITV2 show the following year - leaving many asking why did Laura Whitmore quit Love Island? When announcing Laura's departure from the show ITV said that a new host will be announced in due course and thanked Laura for her work. "Laura has been a fantastic host across the last three series of the show," They said. "We are so grateful for everything she has brought to the programme but understand and respect her decision, and we look forward to working with her on upcoming ITV projects."
But the fans could not wait and speculation as to who Laura's replacement would be became a hot topic. Popular names including former Love Islander Maura Higgins and the show's 2022 winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu were thrown around on social media, but one name stuck out, and has since been confirmed by the ITV show, as Maya Jama - the star is also now set to host Love Island Games, which will bring former contestants from around the world back together for another chance at finding love.
Who is Maya Jama?
Maya Jama is one of the biggest TV and radio presenters in the UK. The 28-year-old has worked her way up through the media industry to become one of the most in-demand presenters.
Maya made a name for herself in 2014 while working on her show #DriveWithMaya, which broadcast in prime time slot for London-based radio station Rinse FM. She began remained a part of the team until 2017.
While working on the radio, Maya's TV career also took off. In 2014, she hosted MTV's The Wrap Up and, by 2017, she had worked with the Brit Awards, hosting their red carpet coverage as well as their pre-Brit Awards parties.
By November of the same year, she became the youngest person ever to co-host the MOBO Awards on Channel 5.
Since then, Maya's career has continued to blossom with the star gaining presenting credits for shows like Walk The Line, Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star and Soccer Aid.
The jump to ITV2's Love Island and it's spin-off show Love Island: Aftersun will not be too much of a challenge for the seasoned presenter. Her previous gig hosting MTV's True Love or True Lies, which saw six couples go head to head to prove whose relationship is best, could have set her up nicely for taking on her new iconic job. Winter Love Island is filmed in South Africa and Jama confirmed her arrival into the country in early January 2023.
When did Maya Jama become the Love Island host?
Maya confirmed she was the new Love Island host in October 2022. She was linked with the job before it was officially announced with The Sun reporting Maya was heading out to South Africa to film the winter version of the show airing in January 2023.
At the time a source told The Sun, "Maya was ITV’s dream option. She is fun, beautiful and a brilliant presenter. She was discussed as a possible replacement for Caroline two years ago - but now the time is right...
"They’re just in the process of finalising the last few details — but barring any huge surprises she will be announced formally very soon. They are just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s."
Maya and ITV confirmed the news publicly after number of publications reached out to her and her agencies for comment and they addressed the rumours in their announcement.
"Okay, the rumours are true 😉 Say hey to your brand-new #LoveIsland host @mayajama! 💘"
Many have voiced how Maya is a great choice with all of her previous experience and her on-screen personality suiting the show's tone perfectly.
Fans took to social media to congratulate Maya as the next host. One user wrote shortly after the announcement, "Love her in glow up! Going to love her in love island 🥹🫶🏼😍😍😍"
Another fan put, "Yessssssssss so deserved as well, so pleased for u maya ❤️❤️❤️❤️"
And a third fan shared the news with her boyfriend and asked, "let me guess, you’ll watch love island with me now then? 🤔"
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