PERFECT STORMZY
LOOSE Women’s Maya Jama says the gun death of her teenage sweetheart makes her cherish her love with rapper Stormzy.
Maya’s life fell apart seven years ago when Rico Gordon, 21, was caught in the crossfire of a street gunfight in Bristol.
The TV presenter, now 23, made a heartbreaking appeal on BBC’S Crimewatch to find the killers.
In 2012, a year after the killing, Shakah Anderson, 31 and Rickel Adams, 27, were convicted of murder and jailed for life.
This week Maya, who is about to host an MTV dating show, was in Spain to celebrate Stormzy’s 25th birthday.
The star, who also presented ITV gameshow Cannonball, said their threeyear relationship is going from strength to strength.
And she is convinced that coping with the trauma of Rico’s tragic death changed her life.
She said: “It just makes you appreciate life and love more when you lose somebody at a young age – or at any age.”
Maya hopes Rico’s murder will be the hardest thing she ever faces. She said: “It was really difficult but then you get a certain strength from going through something so horrible and you are like ‘Well, I can do anything now’.” She said of dating Stormzy: “It just works and I don’t think there is a recipe for good relationships.
“If you just get on with somebody and you actually like them as a person, it makes the whole experience a lot easier.”
In November Maya co-hosted the Mobo awards where Stormzy took the best album gong. And while their career paths cross frequently, Maya has ruled out working together.
Maya, the face of Freya underwear, said: “I was more dreaming of like being Davina [Mccall] and running around and having a massive mansion.” She is about to front an MTV dating show similar to ITV2’S Love Island, which she and Stormzy love. She said: “I’m hoping everyone who watches Love Island will come over to True Love or True Lies? It has a different concept but it’s a similar vibe.”
The show, voiced by actor Danny Dyer, whose daughter Dani is on Love Island, sees six couples at an Italian mansion compete to be crowned the perfect couple. They will also bank £50,000.
True Love or True Lies? MTV, Monday, August 6, 9pm