Love Island’s Maya Jama ‘takes a swipe’ at blonde Celeb Juice co-stars with comment about working ‘10,000 times harder’
LOVE Island host Maya Jama has opened up about the struggles she’s faced making it to the top in the TV industry.
She shared a heartfelt statement from pal Emily Atack that claimed Maya’s had to work “10,000 times harder than her white and blonde co-stars” to achieve the same levels of success.
Maya, who has Somali heritage, appeared alongside a trio of blondes – Holly Willoughby, Fearne Cotton and Laura Whitmore – for the final ever episode of Celebrity Juice.
Next to a picture of the foursome smiling together behind the panel, Emily heaped praise on 28-year-old Maya’s impressive work ethic.
The comedian wrote: “do you know how much of an achievement it is that Maya is sat with these lovely ladies without being blonde + white? This is how I know the girl is working ten thousand times harder than we think she is and why she’s the only public figure I give love to on the regs.
“You don’t get here by being anyone’s girlfriend. As a feminist I won’t ever stop talking about that. As an ally I won’t ever stop talking about that.”
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Maya shared the note on Instagram and followed it up by writing: “One part of my spoken word intro goes ‘they fill my cup, I fill your cup – that’s how we’re supposed to live’.
“I think about the amount of s**t I’ve been through just for being my non-famous no-one self trying to get representation at my day jobs in the past and I mentally say a prayer for people in the industry doing the same.
“This is bigger picture s**t. It’s not about getting a response from a celeb – it’s about being able to see the movement while it’s happening.”
She placed Fearne, Holly and Laura’s handles inside a love heart to show she held no animosity towards them and was making a wider point about the industry in general.
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Maya recently landed one of the biggest presenting roles in UK telly as the first non-white host of Love Island.
The return of the beloved winter version of the show will happen in the New Year with a fresh batch of Islanders heading to South Africa.
Before Maya jets off to meet them, she has decided to perfect her smile.
Sharing a video to her Instagram story, Maya said: “So here I am back at it again, attempt two at Invisalign.
“The messed up thing is if I did it when I got them six months ago I would be half way there but we go back to the beginning.
“I never actually noticed my teeth until other people did which is kind of f***ed up so I’ve been rebelling fixing them or straightening them cos they’re not fixed.”
Maya captioned the post: “Dnt watch my nails lol pamper day is tomoro.”
