Maya Jama has revealed that the brutal and shocking murder of her boyfriend when she was just 16 spurred her determination to succeed.
The 25-year-old media personality was on the phone to her beau Rico Gordon, who had travelled from London to visit her in her native Bristol in 2011, when he was caught in crossfire between rival gangs, instantly cutting his young life short.
And Maya has admitted that her heartbreaking experience, as well as growing up with a father who was in and out of jail, would normally be factors that would prevent her from having the career success she enjoys today.
Life-changing tragedy: Maya Jama has revealed that the brutal and shocking murder of her boyfriend when she was just 16 spurred her determination to succeed. Pictured in March
Speaking to The Guardian, the star said of her boyfriend’s murder: ‘That changed my life completely. Losing somebody close to you as a teenager, particularly your first love, rocks your whole world and you are forced to see life differently.
‘And you feel like life is too short. I don’t want to look back and not have done everything I wanted to do. He was an innocent man who lost his life instantly at 21, and that shocks you and it also makes you snap up, like, no, I’m not wasting time any more.’
The TV presenter had already spent several years dealing with far from ideal circumstances, regularly visiting her imprisoned father until the age of 10, prompting Maya to admit that she ‘shouldn’t have been where [she is] now’.
Heartbreaking: Rico Gordon had travelled from London to visit Maya in her native Bristol in 2011, when he was caught in crossfire between rival gangs
Ex: Elsewhere in her Interview, the star also spoke about being recognised for her work in her own right, following the end of her four-year relationship with Stormzy. Pictured in February
After moving to London as a teen, Maya quickly broke into presenting, landing jobs on radio and TV and making a name for herself among music and football fans.
However, it was through her four-year relationship with grime sensation Stormzy, which ended last year, that she gained increased attention – a factor she ‘understood at the time’, but believes doesn’t dominate her image today.
‘He was – he is – massive in the public eye and a lot of people didn’t know who I was.’ she said. ‘But now I do feel people know my name separately, and it does feel like I’m coming into my own. It feels like I’m finally getting recognition for my hard work.’
Maya, who how hosts the BBC1’s Peter Crouch: Save Our Summer, is also known for exercising her voice to speak out, as was proved on social media over the weekend.
Going from strength to strength: The star’s career continues to thrive. She recently made her debut on a co-host on BBC1’s Peter Crouch: Save Our Summer
Annoyed: The presenter took to Twitter on Sunday after one fan of the show admitted to feeling ‘awkward’ at seeing Maya’s cleavage
Strong: Maya continued in a follow-up tweet, ‘But for those that aren’t & if you are experiencing the effects of an unhappy troll just mute or block and try to feel sorry for them’
The star called out viewers for ‘hyper sexualising’ her body after she wore a plunging dress alongside Peter Crouch on the show, which aired on Saturday night.
Taking to Twitter on Sunday after one fan of the show admitted to feeling ‘awkward’ at seeing her cleavage, Maya wrote: ‘I appreciate your concern.
‘I am able and allowed to dress how I please. If you feel uncomfortable by my boobs sitting in my dress that’s on you sis.
‘We’re all fighting for equality and similar treatment to our male counterparts. Don’t let the side down by hyper sexualising my bod. If you’re uncomfortable with my boobs that’s on you.’
Back to work: The broadcaster was spotted outside London studios on Wednesday morning
Safety first: Looking sensational in a white dress and black boots, she also donned a face mask
Maya also slammed a troll who called her ‘ridiculously obese’ as she said ‘please focus on your own vitamin intake’.
The popular broadcaster, who co-hosts the show with Peter Crouch and Alex Horne, told her followers: ‘Sometimes I retweet trolls not for sympathy or for you guys to get at them but just to remind you that people are MAD on here…
‘And more time if someones gone out the way to be mean to a stranger unprovoked it’s a reflection on them not you, i laugh at it now cause I’m used to it.’
Maya continued in a follow-up tweet: ‘But for those that aren’t & if you are experiencing the effects of an unhappy troll just mute or block and try to feel sorry for them.’
Dancing in the street: She took the opportunity to show off her fancy footwork as she danced
On Saturday’s show, guest Liam Gallagher urged his brother Noel to make friends and reunite Oasis, telling him to ‘get off the naughty step and stop sulking.’
Peter said to Liam: ‘So what about your brother, are you ever gonna make up?’
Liam replied: ‘I’m ready to go man, love is in the air.’
Maya said: ‘Didn’t you do a tweet actually, saying about doing a performance for the NHS…’
Liam replied: ‘Yeah. I know he’s not gonna do it. So I do it to make him look f*****g as bad as…. But I’ll do it.’
Puppy love: The TV personality was also taken with a passing puppy, pausing to pet the pooch