Maya Jama: ‘I splurged on a Birkin bag — it's an investment'

Times

26-07-2025

It's a sexy show so we've always fed into that, but this year we've delved into some vintage designer archives, in particular preloved looks from the 1990s — a few Chanel pieces, some 1994 Versace — to elevate it a bit but keep it fun. Think bright, colourful minidresses.
Oversized shirts with shorts or skinny jeans. My inspiration is 1990s off-duty supermodels — they loved a big white shirt with a big belt, boots or kitten heels.
I loved the white Dolce & Gabbana dress that I wore to host the British Fashion Awards in 2023. It was huge and puffy but had a skirt that I took off, so I got to make a grand entrance on the red carpet like a princess but then make it more moveable.
When I started, there were so many rules. For my first job at MTV they wanted me to look like a member of Little Mix, but now I get to wear what I want, really. I sacrifice comfort! On TV I always think you can suffer for a couple of hours in an outfit, whereas day to day I'm all about comfort. I have learnt that small prints and patterns don't look as good on telly — crisscrosses, stripes, they don't translate as well on camera.
My first Brit awards in 2016. Me and [the reality TV personality] Jess Wright wore the same dress and I thought, oh, here we go. When I was younger I did go through an Avril Lavigne, grungy skater vibe with fishnet arms and legwarmers, but that look was in at the time.
I think we were quite ahead of the curve. We went to charity or vintage shops, wore Levi's denim jackets, oversized cardigans with a miniskirt and boots.
Probably jeans. My weight goes up and down a lot, so I have various sizes and I hold on to all of them. Levi's is probably my most used brand, although I did buy some Alaïa jeans recently, which are quite posh.
Pyjamas, flip-flops, sometimes barefoot, which is disgusting, I know.
I love a shirt and oversized jeans, loose but neatly tailored. I also really like it when men wear shirts and ties under bomber jackets. A$AP Rocky has been doing it recently and has great style.
A cropped khaki green bomber jacket my friend got for me in Japan years ago. It's silky orange inside and has stitched-on patches of loads of random things. She knew I'd love it, which makes it very personal to me. I've had it for years and it goes with everything.
I always go back to Urban Outfitters — I worked there as a teenager and they gave us a 40 per cent discount, which was amazing. I've still got so much in my wardrobe and, if I see one, I pop in and grab bits.
• Read more fashion advice and style inspiration from our experts
Loewe. I love the jackets and how they are fitted. I have a few Jacquemus summer dresses and feel like I'm on some yachty vacay whenever I wear one. It would be a dream to delve into Bottega too.
A Birkin bag by Hermès — but it's an investment.
• Jane Birkin's original Hermès bag sells for record €8.6 million
Big heels. I live in heels. My foot is permanently in a heel shape. Then mainly jeans.
I recently wore cigarette jeans and this white blouse that unbuttoned at the top and bottom and then was more fitted in the middle.Love Island airs Monday to Friday and Sunday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX