Maya Jama is the woman of the hour. At just 24 (yes, really), the radio DJ and presenter is adored for her goofy sense of humour and down-to-earth nature – she’s just as likely to post an Instagram story of herself pulling stupid faces as she is looking 🔥🔥🔥 at a red carpet event.
The Bristol-born star was recently named one of Miss Vogue’s women who ruled 2018 and what’s better, she’s got a lot more to give.
We spoke to her about the five things she couldn’t live without. From handfuls of mini cheddars to packing a sheet mask whenever she’s going on a plane, here are Maya’s must-haves.
Sheet Masks
Garnier Hydrating Sheet Mask, Boots, £1.99
Anyone who follows Maya on Instagram (and if you don’t, why not?) will know of her penchant for sheet masks. For the uninitiated, they look like you’ve laid a wet piece of kitchen roll on your face and made holes for your eyes and mouth. As ridiculous as they look, beautiful people swear by them – including Maya, who wears one every time she goes on a plane (and not just on private jets).
“I found out a few years ago that you lose moisture on your face on planes,” she tells me. “I have oily skin so I used to not put any moisturiser on, because I thought I could dry it out – then I found out that’s the opposite of what I should have been doing. Now I’m making up for lost time and just face masking it up.”
In terms of brands, she likes to try all sorts. Her favourites are Gold Collagen (£19.99 for 4, Boots) or Garnier Hydrating Sheet Mask (£1.99, Boots). But watch this space, because her love is so great that she’s considering launching her own. “I wanna be involved in what gets put into it and make my own brand of face mask, I think that’s my next venture,” she says. You heard it here first peeps.
Buy it here.
Tangle Teezer
Tangle Teezer, Boots, from £11
Who doesn’t love a Tangle Teezer? Maya describes hers as a “lifesaver” that doesn’t leave her handbag.
“When I’m not on camera I don’t have my amazing hair stylist so I can go a couple days without brushing my hair,” she says. “Tangle Teezer is the only one that doesn’t rip my hair out when I go to brush it out.”
Buy it here.
Kiehls Face Mask
Turmeric and Cranberry Seed Radiance Mask, Kiehls, £17 for 28ml or £34 for 100ml
“I feel like face masks just solve everything,” Maya chimes, when gushing over the Kiehls mask “with the little seedy things”.
Described as an “instant facial” by Kiehls, the formulation is intended to even skin tone, while the seeds gently exfoliate. “It’s a brightening one and as soon as you take it off you feel fresh faced,” says Maya. She admits it’s a little on the pricey side, but “not ridiculous” – maybe a good one to save for a treat every now and again?
Her favourite time to face mask? “Not first thing in the morning, most likely the night before something or if I’m feeling a bit rough. Then I’ll be like, let me just fling a face mask on, it’ll solve it.”
Buy it here.
Mini Cheddars
Mini Cheddars 12 x 25g bag, Tesco, £3
Something we can all get on board with is Maya’s love for the cheesy crisp-slash-biscuit of our childhood lunchboxes. “They are my life crisp, I’ve loved them consistently throughout my life,” she says.
She’s always got some stockpiled in her kitchen cupboard, and sometimes even in her handbag – “If I’m going on a long journey, I’ll have a couple of packets in there.” She loves them because they don’t feel unhealthy as they’re baked.
We can definitely relate, but then Maya’s love goes one step too far. “I do that disgusting thing where you chew one up and spit it on the other Mini Cheddar and make a kind of chewed-up Mini Cheddar sandwich. It’s disgusting.”
Anyone else? Didn’t think so.
Buy them here.
Bodycon Dress
Toffee Square Neck Vinyl Midi Dress, Pretty Little Thing, £20
Maya swears by a good standard, one colour bodycon dress. She loves the versatility, she says – you can dress it up with heels or down with trainers and a jacket.
“Bodycon dresses have been my favourite since I was young and I feel like I’m gonna be wearing this one at every opportunity,” she says.
She has them in lots of colours. “I like beigey, browny ones, which are my version of a nude,” she adds. “Most ppl have LBDs but I don’t really like wearing black.”
Buy it here.
Maya Jama recently launched her second clothing collection with Pretty Little Thing.
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