Love Island host Maya Jama has offered fans a peek into her unexpected downtime in South Africa, after the launch of the highly anticipated Love Island: All Stars series was postponed due to nearby wildfires.
Unexpected Break in a 'New Home'
The 31-year-old presenter, who flew out last week ahead of the show's scheduled start, has been making the most of the delay in Cape Town. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Maya shared a series of clips and photos showcasing her relaxed, 'wholesome' activities while holed up in her luxury villa.
In one mirror clip, she showed off her toned figure in a skimpy black triangle bikini from brand Hunza G, which featured a bejewelled lining. "Been letting the skin breathe and it's thanking me," she captioned the post.
A Local Feeling After Four Years
Elsewhere, Maya filmed herself strolling through Cape Town, which she referred to as her 'new home'. She revealed that having visited for four consecutive years, she now feels like a local. "It's been four years I've been coming here so I do feel a bit like a local," she said. "I've been strutting around, popping into all the shops and saying 'Hey I'm back'."
She also told followers she had rented a bike and has been 'jetting around' the city during her time off. Summarising her mood, she captioned a video: "Love you all wholesome as heck over here. But will try post a bit more when we're in the swing of it all."
Production Delay and Financial Impact
The relaxed posts come after ITV bosses were forced to postpone the launch of the new All Stars series, which was originally scheduled for Monday evening. Filming was due to begin over the weekend but was pushed back indefinitely after dangerous wildfires raged in areas close to the villa in Wemmershoek.
In a statement shared on Monday night, ITV confirmed the delay, saying: "Just a reminder that the Love Island launch show has been delayed due to wild fires near the villa in South Africa. Everyone is safe though and we're working on bringing you an iconic series."
Reports suggest producers hope to begin filming on Wednesday, though a new air date is still to be confirmed. The delay is said to be costing the broadcaster over £15,000 an hour due to commitments to crew, staff, and other professionals on the ground in South Africa.
Maya, along with 12 confirmed Islanders including Millie Court and Tommy Fury's brother Tommy Bradley, are all in high-end accommodations awaiting the all-clear to start production. A source stated: "Bosses have no choice but to wait for the area to be deemed completely safe. The desire is to be back as soon as possible but risk and health and safety assessments are still ongoing."
