SHE began her biggest presenting gig to date and delighted fans by rekindling her romance with former flame Stormzy, so there’s no denying this will be a huge year for Maya Jama.
The sky’s the limit for the gorgeous ITV Love Island host, 29, who – believe it or not – has undergone a huge transformation over the years to become the huge star she is today.
Maya Jama knows how to make a statement with her power poses – but this wasn’t always the caseCredit: Instagram
And while some of the changes have been obvious – her incredible and enviable figure alone puts her celebrity peers in the shade – others have been much more obscure.
Here, with the help of body language expert Judi James, we take a look at the subtle and cryptic clues she’s shared through her poses, revealing the full extent of just how far she’s come.
The star bagged the Love Island presenting gig last year – and her self confidence has soaredCredit: Instagram
‘Shy & lacking confidence’
Her selfies and poses nowadays absolutely ooze sultry self-confidence – but this hasn’t always been the case.
After starting her career out in TV and radio, Maya first met rapper Stormzy, 30, in 2014, and the pair dated – initially in secret – until 2019, before going their separate ways for a few years.
While she was always on the way to becoming a star, initially Stormzy became the more famous of the pair, and it seems being in the spotlight was something Maya was still getting used to.
When she started dating Stormzy, Maya was still getting to grips to being in the spotlight and seemed shy at firstCredit: Getty
Judi says: “Her first pose as a couple shows no desire from Maya to court the cameras.
“She keeps her torso turned in towards her man and holds her drink up in a barrier gesture.
“The pose looks casual, as though she’s been interrupted, and her eye engage with the camera suggests a lack of confidence and shyness.”
Deflecting attention
While Maya has always looked stunning, her confidence really came much later in her career, as early red carpet photos on her own show, with the star displaying some subconscious signs of discomfort in front of the camera lens.
Judi says: “In the early days Maya would even allow herself to be upstaged by a clutch bag.
“In the first image, posing with the bag held in front of her torso acts as a barrier, and by wearing a simple black dress she forces the attention to focus on the silver bag and matching shoes, suggesting a lack of both ego and confidence.
“In the second image she even stands with her legs crossed at the ankle, in a shy gesture.”
In the early years Maya had a tendency to use accessories to deflect attention from herselfCredit: Getty
Small gestures like crossing her ankles in this 2016 photo reveal Maya may have been quite shy initiallyCredit: Getty
Playful pose & self-defence decision
While Maya was finding her feet and working to establish herself as one of the country’s biggest TV stars, she gradually became accustomed to attending big showbiz events.
To the untrained eye seemed confident posing on red carpets, especially when accompanied by her beau.
However, Judi says subtle gestures tell a different story.
Judi says: “Maya’s red carpet poses with Stormzy at this point make her look like a fish out of water.
“She looks sweet and funny but as though she’d rather be at home chilling in her PJs.
“Her shoulders are raised and hunched and her sweet smile suggests she has no desire to market herself as a star.
“The playful pose with Stormzy shows her giggling, which is often a self-defence mechanism when someone feels awkward in front of the camera.”
Stormzy and Maya pictured together in 2017 attending the Glamour Women of the Year AwardsCredit: PA:Press Association
Powerful and in control
While they’re happily back together now, Maya and Stormzy split in August 2019, amid Stormzy cheating rumours – which he later denied.
A month later Maya made a huge statement, stepping out confidently in a revealing cutout gown at a fashion event – and really showed her ex what he was missing in the process.
Judi says: “When wearing her ‘revenge dress’, Maya actually reveals a more powerful and telling message of her inner feelings from her body language signals as she poses.
“She showed a whole new level of class and confidence here, posing in a way that almost demanded we see her as a star in her own right and looking much more powerful without Stormzy by her side.
Maya’s dress made a big statement but it was her body language that really did the talking hereCredit: Getty
“Maya seemed to be doing the look as validation for herself rather than a ‘look what you’re missing’ message to her ex, and there are three body language signals of goddess-style confidence here.
“The leg splay, which turns her body silhouette into a triangle shape, showing a strong, confident base.
“Then there’s the swan neckline, where her neck is stretched and upright, with a symmetric shoulder line.
“There’s also the way her arms are now held slightly behind her torso and her hands hold her skirt to fan it out either side.
“Maya is in control of this pose and she is in control of the dress, which is a trait she’s shown even since.”
A star is born
Maya really began to learn how to ooze confidence, demonstrated here in this 2021 snap
From this moment on, Maya really began to consistently show the world who’s the boss, and her stances constantly command attention.
Judi says: “Following her split from Stormzy, a career line in
the sand was created – and there was no going back for Maya who literally flourished in her new look of utter confidence.
“The girl who giggled and looked uneasy in a formal dress in 2017 is now wearing sexy, revealing designs like a Vogue model.
“In this image for example, she fills the doorway with her arms placed out to draw attention to herself, rather than deflect it.
“She might have felt she needed to deflect interest to show that it was Stormzy who was the big star when she was with him, but now she allows us to make no mistake who the actual big star is.
“Her eyes now gaze out above the camera with a confident, high-status stare.”
Her Love Island era
Maya was announced as the new Love Island host in 2022 and made her debut the following yearCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Then, in 2022 it was announced Maya was set to take over as Love Island host from Laura Whitmore, and when it came to creating an impression Maya knew exactly what to do.
As well as capturing attention with her outfits, she also showcased a new-found powerful presence through her poses too.
Judi says: “No matter how daring or eye-catching her Love Island dresses are, like a true star she never allows them to upstage her and always wears them with total confidence.
The star now smoulders in front of the camera and wears all her outfits with complete confidenceCredit: Instagram
The presenter is now completely at ease in her own skin and by raising her hand in this image, Judi believes she’s sharing a gesture of elegance and classCredit: Instagram
“Maya’s social media poses show body language signs that hint at very smart, single-minded, ambitious thinking, and she has also become openly seductive and sexual.
“The more regal confidence has moved to the next level and she now tends to pose with her eyes narrowed sensually and her hair flowing over one shoulder.
“Her body poses look more intimate and she communicates more with the camera, with her body confidence at an all-time high.
“Even in the very revealing black one-piece she poses with ease, looking totally in control of herself, her career and her life now.”
A total transformation
Happily reunited couple Maya and Stormzy pictured together in November 2023Credit: Getty
Finally, the world rejoiced in August last year when Maya and Stormzy confirmed they were back together after being pictured hand-in-hand on holiday.
Judi says: “Her pose when she reconciled with Stormzy shows a very different woman from the girl he dated in the early days.
“Maya is now the Love Island diva, a woman carrying the brand single-handedly through into the post-Covid world on her own back, and her eyes are now happy to seek out and communicate with the cameras rather than her man.
“Her eye contact, body-curbed pose and her smile all show she now knows she is a star in her own right and that the cameras are there for her as well as him.”
The beauty is now comfortable with the attention she receives and it’s reflected in her posesCredit: @ mayajama