Jama broke the news herself on Instagram on Sunday, November 8, posting a video of her Love Island highlights alongside a farewell statement.

"What an incredible era and what an unforgettable time I've had, it's been far too much fun to put into words or a video," she wrote, adding that she had "loved every slow-mo walk, fire pit and live show."

Reposting the message to her Stories, she added, "I feel emotional. End of an era," according to Us Weekly. She thanked fans for every supportive message and paid tribute to the "incredible" production team she said works for months every year to bring the iconic show to life.

Variety reports she has since competed on the second season of Celebrity Traitors — where she was selected as a Traitor in the first episode and was the only original Traitor to reach the final — and made her acting debut in the second season of Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen this year.

That rising profile makes her departure from television's biggest reality franchise a genuine reversal rather than a fading host moving on. She framed it that way herself: "to truly grow, you have to take a leap every now and then, and now is my time to throw myself into something new."

Jama's full statement, quoted by The Independent and Variety, stressed that "the show really does belong to the people who watch it and embrace it year after year."

She noted she started hosting aged 28 and met "the most wonderful humans" across nine series, writing that she will be "cheering you lot on from the sidelines forever."

ITV responded with a warm send-off, saying in a statement reported by The Independent: "Maya has been a fantastic and much loved host on Love Island – we thank her for everything she has brought to the show over the last three years and wish her every continued success."

Caroline Flack helmed the show from its return until Laura Whitmore took over in 2020, and Whitmore lasted three series before citing the South Africa travel grind and conflicting projects, as Us Weekly recalls from her 2022 exit post.

Jama's nine-series run included the Love Island: Games and Love Island: All Stars spin-offs, so ITV must fill not just the flagship hosting chair but a wider presenting portfolio.

Variety notes she built her career as one of the youngest BBC Radio One DJs ever before becoming a sought-after presenter, and that this year she made her acting debut in The Gentlemen.

Her Celebrity Traitors run ended at the final, where fellow Traitor King Kenny cast the deciding banishing vote against her; although Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft won the £83,000 prize pot, The Independent reports Jama still gave an undisclosed sum to her charity, Action for Children.

For now, her promised vantage point is the sidelines.