Television presenter Maya Jama has hired Scottish stylist Soki Mak to dress her for the premiere of Netflix series The Gentlemen, marking her upcoming acting debut.
The pair crossed paths during a visit to the United States and agreed to work together, with Mak known for working closely with Kim Kardashian as the visionary behind some of Kardashian's most iconic red carpet looks.
While Jama typically works with Rhea Francois to curate her wardrobe, turning to Kardashian's right-hand woman comes as the Love Island host increasingly emulates the American superstar through headline-grabbing outfits, high-profile relationships, and business ventures.
Red carpet fashion and iconic dresses
Prior to hiring Mak, Jama had been channelling Kardashian's fashion choices for years. She went viral in 2023 after stepping into Love Island wearing a £1,500 black Mônot cut-out dress that showcased her curves.
"I’ve never felt more confident in a dress," Jama later said of the outfit. "The reaction online was insane, within hours of me wearing it, it had completely sold out."
Jama added: "It was, quite literally, a showstopper. When I bumped into the designer, Eli Mizrahi, in Ibiza this summer, he was like, 'Who is this girl?' because the dress had gone so viral. He told me that had never happened before." She noted that "one single appearance could become such a significant fashion moment," calling it "a true life or career-defining thing."
Fashion observers noted that the Mônot gown bore a striking resemblance to the vintage Thierry Mugler Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1998 gown that Kardashian wore to the 2019 Hollywood Beauty Awards. Kardashian had thanked the fashion house for letting her borrow the "iconic" dress.
In May 2023, Jama attended dinner with friends at Bacchanalia restaurant in Mayfair wearing a optical illusion Jean Paul Gaultier dress five years after Kardashian wore a near-identical version to the People's Choice Awards in 2018.
Jama has also worn metallic silver outfits mirroring Kardashian's Dolce & Gabbana looks, copying her chunky cross necklace. She also drew style inspiration from a selfie Kardashian posted in a newspaper print top, matching the top down to the hairstyle.
Jama remains unapologetically confident about her wardrobe despite past criticism. After facing backlash in 2020 for wearing revealing outfits on BBC1 series Peter Crouch: Save Our Summer, the former radio DJ told the Daily Mail that critics were "hyper sexualising" her body rather than celebrating a woman fronting a primetime show.
"I've always worn the same thing but when I was slimmer nobody commented on it and as soon as you have got a fuller figure people are shocked and insulted by your body, so I found it ridiculous," Jama said. "I've been wearing the same outfits, the same cut tops, my entire career and there was never really that many comments on it until I started putting on a bit of weight."
She added: "I was like 'Gosh, if you're shocked at boobs or even just a bit of cleavage on telly, I don't know how people cope when they go to the swimming pool or the beach because there's a lot more boobs on show there.' It's a woman's body, I don't feel like it should cause such outrage. I'm going to continue to dress how I've always dressed no matter what size I am."
High-fashion brand campaigns
Beyond red carpets, Jama has fronted major fashion campaigns for Adidas, Levi, and Gap. Her most prominent deal came as the face of Dolce & Gabbana's Fall/Winter 2023/24 collection, shot by Steven Meisel alongside designer Domenico Dolce.
In a statement, Dolce & Gabbana shared: "Maya’s star has risen and she is now an influential female icon in contemporary culture," adding that she "poses with self-assurance and elegance."
Kardashian previously worked with the brand as curator and face of their Spring/Summer 2023 Ciao Kim collection alongside Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce. In an official statement, the brand declared: "Kim Kardashian is the contemporary diva and the ultimate muse," stating that her "confidence, independence, and sensuality" inspired their archival choices.
Commercial investments and tech startups
Jama has also demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit, launching skincare company MIJ Masks in 2021, which is said to be worth over £300,000. She is an investor, co-owner, strategic advisor, and public face for Swedish yellow split-pea milk brand Sproud.
Jama joined The Artists Collective, a group founded by musicians, actors, and television stars to invest in tech startups. The collective has invested in over 20 early-stage tech companies at Seed and Series A stages, writing cheques between £50,000 and £300,000 with a focus on AI, software, cybersecurity, fintech, health, and media.
Kardashian reached billionaire status through several successful investments and companies. She launched DASH Boutique stores with sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian in 2006, closing all locations in 2018, before launching a beauty and fragrance line and the mobile game Kim Kardashian: Hollywood.
Kardashian's primary active ventures include shapewear brand SKIMS, luxury skincare line SKKN BY KIM, and private equity firm SKKY Partners, which she co-founded to focus on consumer and luxury brands.
High-profile relationships
Jama and Kardashian both share dating histories with A-list names. Jama dated rapper Stormzy on and off from 2015 to 2024, building her star power to match the Crown hitmaker. Following their initial split, she dated basketball player Ben Simmons and got engaged before separating in August 2022 due to work and travel schedules.
Jama dated Manchester City footballer Ruben Dias for roughly 18 months before splitting in April, and has been linked to Drake and Leonardo DiCaprio. Kardashian's dating history includes marriages to music producer Damon Thomas, NBA player Kris Humphries, and rapper Kanye West, alongside relationships with Ray J, Nick Cannon, Reggie Bush, and Pete Davidson. She is currently dating Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton.
Television acting roles
Jama enlisted Mak for The Gentlemen premiere ahead of making her acting debut when the Netflix season is released on September 3. The series, which landed in 2024 based on the 2019 movie, stars Vinnie Jones as hardman Geoffrey Seacombe and Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass, daughter of Ray Winstone's crime boss character. Jama plays the glamorous wife of an associate of Theo James' character.
An insider told the Daily Mail: "Netflix have a lot of confidence in the second series being just as popular as the first." The insider added: "It’s set to air later this year and bosses are counting on Maya Jama to add the sex factor the first series was lacking."
Kardashian has also pivoted to acting roles, starring as publicist Siobhan Corbyn in American Horror Story: Delicate in 2023. She recently played divorce attorney Allura Grant in the Disney and Hulu series All's Fair, which was commissioned for a second season despite being universally panned by critics.
