One Love had the pleasure of connecting with the vibrant 20-year-old UK Media Presenter MAYA JAMA! Her impressive start in the media industry at the age of 16 and the journey she's currently on, can truly be inspiring to us all. She had her eyes on what she wanted and went after it, leaving behind her family and friends in Bristol and making a name for herself, despite the odds, in colourful LONDON! In the following interview, Maya talks about her adventure to explore the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, her passion for what she does everyday and how her experiences have impacted her thus far. Take a look at this energetic power house! |
One Love x Maya Jama
OL: How did this journey of media journalism start for you?
MJ: I studied media and performing arts in college at 16 with the dream of becoming an actress, when I moved to London from Bristol to complete my second year I was introduced to TheJumpOff and soon after began presenting there weekly music video countdown show, it was whilst doing that that I realised this is what I wanted to continue to do as a career :)
OL: Have there been any major challenges since you’ve started? If so, what inspires or motivates you to keep going?
MJ: I think at the start being away from my family and friends was a bit of a struggle, especially when a lot of my friends would be going away travelling to Thailand and India on their gap year's and I'd be in London working. Not too long after that though I toured Brazil doing a presenting job. I think what inspires and motivates me most is that I genuinely believe anything you put your mind to, you can do - any goals I've put in place for myself at the start, I've already achieved in the space of like a year really with hard work & the help of my amazing agent of course.
MJ: I studied media and performing arts in college at 16 with the dream of becoming an actress, when I moved to London from Bristol to complete my second year I was introduced to TheJumpOff and soon after began presenting there weekly music video countdown show, it was whilst doing that that I realised this is what I wanted to continue to do as a career :)
OL: Have there been any major challenges since you’ve started? If so, what inspires or motivates you to keep going?
MJ: I think at the start being away from my family and friends was a bit of a struggle, especially when a lot of my friends would be going away travelling to Thailand and India on their gap year's and I'd be in London working. Not too long after that though I toured Brazil doing a presenting job. I think what inspires and motivates me most is that I genuinely believe anything you put your mind to, you can do - any goals I've put in place for myself at the start, I've already achieved in the space of like a year really with hard work & the help of my amazing agent of course.
"[A]nything you put your mind to, you can do." - Maya Jama
OL: Is there anything that really intimidates or makes you nervous?
MJ: I get nervous before any screen test which I think is kind of normal. It's difficult to be completely natural and show you at your best when there's cameras on you and a room full of strangers. People say you should imagine everyone in their underwear in those situations but that would just make me laugh and I'd be a giggling wreck!!
OL: What has been the most thrilling/memorable experience of your career thus far?
MJ : I always say that being in Brazil this summer was the most amazing experience of my life and my career, I can't choose one specific moment (meeting Ronaldinho was up there) but the two months on the whole was incredible!
MJ: I get nervous before any screen test which I think is kind of normal. It's difficult to be completely natural and show you at your best when there's cameras on you and a room full of strangers. People say you should imagine everyone in their underwear in those situations but that would just make me laugh and I'd be a giggling wreck!!
OL: What has been the most thrilling/memorable experience of your career thus far?
MJ : I always say that being in Brazil this summer was the most amazing experience of my life and my career, I can't choose one specific moment (meeting Ronaldinho was up there) but the two months on the whole was incredible!
The Football Virgin goes to Brazil (and meets Ronaldinho!)
OL: Can you describe your Brazilian experience at the 2014 World Cup; and how it felt exploring this South American treasure on behalf of Hyundai, at the young age of 20?
MJ: It was insane!! The first time I went in April to do the World Cup Cities show I was literally spending 2 days in each city filming from morning to night finding the best things to do in each place. I couldn't believe how big Brazil was and how different each city was & how beautiful and colourful it was. It opened my eyes seeing how different life is over there. Everywhere we went, I felt welcomed and at the end of the trip I felt like a Brazilian and then being able to go back for the World Cup was the best thing ever!! To have that many different people from all around the world in one place having a good time, I didn't want to come home. I met so many amazing people and I'll never forget the experience.
OL: Is there one celebrity you would absolutely love to meet or interview? What would you ask them?
MJ: I'm a massive Kendrick Lamar fan so I'd always say him but if I think about life long heroes - I've loved Dolly Parton since I was little girl - I'd ask her if Jolene was a real lady and if we could duet "9 - 5." :)
MJ: It was insane!! The first time I went in April to do the World Cup Cities show I was literally spending 2 days in each city filming from morning to night finding the best things to do in each place. I couldn't believe how big Brazil was and how different each city was & how beautiful and colourful it was. It opened my eyes seeing how different life is over there. Everywhere we went, I felt welcomed and at the end of the trip I felt like a Brazilian and then being able to go back for the World Cup was the best thing ever!! To have that many different people from all around the world in one place having a good time, I didn't want to come home. I met so many amazing people and I'll never forget the experience.
OL: Is there one celebrity you would absolutely love to meet or interview? What would you ask them?
MJ: I'm a massive Kendrick Lamar fan so I'd always say him but if I think about life long heroes - I've loved Dolly Parton since I was little girl - I'd ask her if Jolene was a real lady and if we could duet "9 - 5." :)
"It helps being around like minded people when
you're trying to achieve your dream, it pushes you."
OL: Maya Jama is an extremely beautiful name – can you tell us a little bit about it? And for someone who does not know you, how would you describe “Maya Jama”? MJ: I was named after Maya Angelou, my mum was reading one of her books whilst she was pregnant and Jama is a Somali name from my dad's side, my middle name is Indea pronounced (in deya). I think just Maya Jama has a good little flow though, haha & I would describe myself as loud, almost shameless, excitable, a spontaneous 20 year old with a sensible [and] determined [30 year old] woman trapped inside somewhere that pops out every now and then. I think I'm a typical Leo, every time I read my star sign it's near enough accurate, so yeah if you're ever curious about how I'm doing one week, welcome to check my star sign, haha not really but quite often! |
OL: What’s your ABSOLUTE favorite thing about living in LONDON?
MJ: Everything is here! You can get to the other side of London from wherever you are by train in about an hour! I've lived here about 3 years now and there's still so many places and areas I've never been to. It's fast paced and I feel like people are hungry for what they want here, it helps being around like minded people when your trying to achieve your dream, it pushes you.
MJ: Everything is here! You can get to the other side of London from wherever you are by train in about an hour! I've lived here about 3 years now and there's still so many places and areas I've never been to. It's fast paced and I feel like people are hungry for what they want here, it helps being around like minded people when your trying to achieve your dream, it pushes you.
OL: What’s the most valuable lesson you think you’ve learned since entering this world of entertainment?
MJ: I've learnt that not everything's for you and you shouldn't be disheartened if you don't get a job, it's very easy to have your heart set on something and kick yourself when you don't get it. If you're working hard, something else will always come up :)
MJ: I've learnt that not everything's for you and you shouldn't be disheartened if you don't get a job, it's very easy to have your heart set on something and kick yourself when you don't get it. If you're working hard, something else will always come up :)
"If you're working hard, something else will always come up." - Maya J.
Get to know Maya & take a peep at her 2014 World Cup adventure!
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Permission for Photos: Sarah Jane Cass