Maya Jama has compared herself to a secret agent while discussing her approach to dating – and has thrown shade at her exes as she explained she knew exactly why she had to walk away
Maya Jama has taken a brutal swipe at her ex-boyfriends as she shared her secrets to a successful relationship.
The 30-year-old Love Island host is currently said to be dating Portuguese footballer Ruben Dias, 27 – who she has been linked to since December last year. Before their romance, however, Maya had a years-long on-off romance with chart-topping musician Stormzy – whose real name is Michael Owuo Jr, 31.
She also enjoyed a high-profile romance with Australian basketball player Ben Simmons, 28, from 2021 until 2022. Now Maya has opened up about her approach to dating – explaining that she is always happy to walk away if she feels she is being failed by her other half.
Her back-handed insult to Stormzy and Ben comes as her romance with Ruben is said to be taking off – while more positive notes from her interview see her explaining that she knows that she needs to look for things that she “likes” in order to keep a relationship running smoothly. Explaining that she has a lot of love to give to the right person, Maya said she is only too happy to walk away if she is not getting what she needs.
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Opening up to Julie Adenuga on Now You Know, the Love Island host discussed what she looks for in a partner. She revealed: “I’m such a lover but I am a big leaver as well. I know what makes me happy and I know what I like — and this is no disrespect to anyone I’ve been in a relationship with, but if it’s not that then I will leave it.
“My point I always try to make is that I am really, really happy and I have curated this lovely little life for myself and my friends. I only want you if you are going to add to that or make it better, otherwise I am not really on it.”
Maya went on to compare herself to a secret agent as she tries to form relationships while being in the public eye. She said: “Dating is a bit of a ball-ache if I am honest because I am like, ‘I can’t go anywhere with you because even if I step out with my friend they are going to say I am dating him.’ That’s a bit annoying, having to be a secret agent to date.”
Maya and Stormzy dated from 2014 until 2019 – and rekindled their romance in August 2023, before splitting again in July 2024. A source told the Daily Mail at the time of the final split: “Maya and Stormzy are very much on different pages when it comes to their future. Stormzy was keen to settle down whereas Maya is enjoying her career, she’s ambitious, and wants to prioritise achieving everything she possibly can. She also loves travelling and partying, at just 29 she’s not ready for the next chapter just yet.”
After rumours emerged that Maya and Ruben had started dating, a source told The Sun earlier this year: “Maya and Ruben swapped details at the EMAs and have chatted since, but things went up a gear in early December. When Ruben got injured and had to miss the congested new year fixtures, he jumped at the chance to see in 2025 with Maya in Spain. Spending New Year’s Eve together was a real step forward in their relationship. They get on really well and obviously make a gorgeous couple, but it’s early days.”
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