Maya Jama opens up on new romance with Man City footballer Ruben Dias for the first time ahead of Love Island’ All Stars

SHE’S the High Priestess of Love Island – and now Maya Jama has spoken of her own new romance for the first time.

Fans were thrilled when The Sun last week revealed she is dating footballer Ruben Dias after they were spotted having dinner on New Year’s Eve.

The Man City star then shared a photo of Maya on Instagram and yesterday she tweeted a fan about the news.

But she is keen not to distract from the launch of a new series of spin-off show All Stars, in Cape Town, South Africa, which starts on Monday on ITV2. She said: “This time it’s not about my love life, it’s about theirs — let’s focus on the Islanders.”

Maya split from on-off boyfriend Stormzy in July, and Ruben is her first romance since.

Chatting to TV Biz at the show’s Cape Town villa, Maya added: “Even before Love Island, people were interested in my love life, so I’m used to it.”

She also hinted at how she first landed Ruben — at the MTV EMAs in September.

And she added: “Don’t be shy to hit on people or get your feelings out there, because you never know what’s going to happen and someone else could come in and steal your partner — so just go for it and don’t hold back.

"No long games, and take action.”

At least Ruben won’t face competition from this year’s Islanders, because Maya has revealed the lads no longer come on to her on the set like they did when she first took over as host in 2023.

She said: “They’ve got better at not trying to flirt with me, they don’t do it as much now.

“My jaw drops for them too — sometimes I’m like, ‘You lot look fit’ — but they just cut it out [in the edit].” And she revealed she has not always been such a man magnet. 

She said of her school days: “Queen P is what the older boys would call me. 

"I thought it meant Queen Pretty — and then we finished school and they were like, ‘We thought you looked like a pigeon, so it was Queen Pigeon’.”

REVAMPS RAMP UP THE VILLA THRILLS

THE Love Island villa has had a raft of mod-cons installed, and a ton of new beds – as my deputy Felicity Cross found out, during her visit.

Heaters have been built into the seating of the fire pit to keep off the chilly Cape Town breeze.

Islanders can also take the plunge in a sexy new hot tub.

But the most impactful addition is the extra bed in The Hideaway – which now has TWO doubles, while the living room has five pull- down beds.

Executive producer Mike Spencer said: “A throuple is not the traditional coupling-up format, but I’m sure you could entertain a third during your time here . . . hopefully we might see more of a sleepover vibe in here.”

There’s also a new Secret Garden for Islanders’ private moments.

Mike added: “We have a totally different way of starting the series, that has not been seen on any previous Love Island or All Stars.

“We think it’s a killer cast, we’ve got amazing bombshells and we’ve got tons of new format points.

“Hopefully everyone will tune in and see what happens this year.”

MAYA has already started work on a new career path.

After sharing her New Year ambition to move into acting, she reveals she’s already been auditioning.

She said: “I have been having a couple of screen tests. My dream role, I want to be a villain or something – completely not like me – so it shows I can act. 

"You know, like maybe a villain with no teeth that crawls on the floor. And then people would be like, ‘Wow, two different people’.”

Like Charlize Theron, in 2003 thriller movie Monster, perhaps? “Yes!” Maya laughed.

But other acting work may also appeal.

She added: “I would never say no to EastEnders – it’s an iconic show, a core show in my family growing up, we were there every night.”

I can just see her sipping a gin in the Queen Vic.

GABBY: I’M LIKE BORAT

PERSONAL trainer Gabby Allen might look like the perfect Love Islander – but the All Stars contestant reckons she looks like mankini man Borat.

Comic Sacha Baron Cohen played the journalist in a number of mocku-mentaries, and famously wore the neon-green all-in-one swimsuit.

Gabby, who found fame in 2017’s Love Island villa, said: “You live in a bikini when you’re in there, so you want to feel 100-per- cent confident.

“But bikinis have to fit your body in a certain way – especially because I am quite athletic-looking, I look like Borat.”

Gabby will want to look her best on All Stars, as unbeknownst to her she will be living alongside ex Marcel Somerville – who cheated on her during a romantic Mexican holiday while she slept.

Gabby said: “We haven’t spoken for six years, so I feel like if he was to go in [the All Stars villa], there would be conversations to be had.”

And she added of Marcel’s two-timing: “That really knocked my trust – not only was it a cheating situation but how it happened, like the circumstances, was just wild.”

In the meantime Elma Pazar is hoping to stick around a little longer on All Stars than she did when she made her Love Island debut in 2019 and lasted only a week.

She said: “I’d like to make the most of it. It’s nice to be an OG this time.”

COME ON DOWN, MOLLY ’N’ TOMMY

SHOW bosses tried and failed to woo former Love Islander Tommy Fury back, following his split from Molly-Mae Hague.

But now that the pair have been pictured kissing, on New Year’s Eve, they would be welcome back in the villa to re-light their fire.

Love Island producer Mike Spencer revealed his team had tapped up Tommy for All Stars, but now added: “If Molly and Tommy would like to come back here and rekindle, they’re more than welcome.”

Another ex-Islander not appearing on All Stars is Joey Essex, after his stint in the villa last summer. Mike said with a laugh: “We’ll give him a break.”

Famed Love Island relationship test Casa Amor will also not feature in this series, while the show’s private Treehouse has been scrapped in favour of the new Secret Garden.

Fans will be glad to hear the unlucky yellow bean bags have been binned, too.

Yes, really.