Love Island’s Maya Jama reveals major career change after admitting she missed out on iconic Channel 4 show

LOVE Island presenter Maya Jama has ambitions to start a new career — as a film actress.

The 30-year-old spoke about her hopes as she prepared to launch the latest series of Love Island All Stars.

Maya said: “I think I just want to enjoy the year and be open to all opportunities.

"I’d like to explore acting as well, just to put the feelers out there.”

She has already dabbled in the business, appearing in Netflix comedy-drama series The Duchess alongside Katherine Ryan in 2020.

And when she was 15, Maya almost landed a role in Channel 4’s teen drama Skins.

She once said: “I was really convinced that I was going to get it.

“I told everyone ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to see you again because I’m about to be really famous’ and I didn’t get it.

“After that, I said forget acting, I’m going to do something that’s really easy like presenting.”

She is back with Love Island All Stars in South Africa, which kicks off next Monday — posing in a billowing gown with the islanders, all former contestants, for a highly stylised picture

The line-up includes Gabby Allen, who first appeared on the 2017 series, and Curtis Pritchard and India Reynolds from 2019’s run.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu, who won in 2022, is expected to join later as a bombshell.

Maya said of the line-up: “I think the dynamic changes because there are some Islanders that are more well-known compared to others.

“It’s a mix of newer and older series so it’ll be interesting to see how the old school OGs bond with the newer series and to see if they have a different approach to the island overall.

“They all know each other or will recognise one another from previous series, so it’ll be interesting to see who sparks up a romance and who’s going to be the most dramatic.

"They’ll be a bit older and wiser this time round so hopefully making better decisions — who knows?”