Maya Jama has a small lion outline near her ankle, an Arabic phrase across her thigh and cartoon-like faces around her crossed wrists. The designs vary in size and mood, with some meanings clearer than others.
A recent Cape Town choice

The fine-line lion sits just above Jama’s ankle. She got it at Tomb Tattoo while visiting Cape Town with a friend, after a night out that left her hungover. She chose a lion because she’s a Leo.
The design is a small outline without a crown, heavy shading or extra lettering. The trip is part of the story too: Jama has described the tattoo as a spur-of-the-moment choice made with a friend.
A relaxed choice

Jama says she chose the lion because she’s a Leo. There’s no need to read a bigger personality statement into the symbol.
The phrase with more history

Jama has spoken about an Arabic phrase across her thigh, roughly translated as “love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching.” She got it as a teenager. The text carries a longer personal history than the newer ankle tattoo.
The thigh gives a longer line of text room and keeps it covered by many everyday outfits. Jama has said some of her tattoos are hidden until she isn’t dressed.
Why placement matters

The thigh can keep a longer tattoo private unless Jama chooses to show it. For anyone considering an Arabic phrase, the wording should be checked by a fluent speaker who understands the intended meaning. A copied online translation can miss spelling or grammar.
Small details

Jama also has small cartoon-like faces around her crossed wrists. They’re more playful than the thigh text, and photographs show them alongside other fine-line pieces.
Small wrist designs are easy to see, but the skin moves and gets regular sun and friction. A simplified face can keep its expression more clearly than one packed with tiny details.
Different moods, one collection
The tattoos don’t follow one strict style. The lion is a sign-of-the-zodiac reference; the Arabic phrase is a long personal message; the wrist faces are playful. Photos sometimes show other small designs, but they aren’t always clear enough to identify. Jama works across radio, television, fashion and social media, and not every tattoo has to represent the same side of her life.
Good ideas without copying
If an animal design appeals to you, start with the connection it has to your own life rather than copying Jama’s outline. If you’re considering text, check the wording and look at the design at the size you plan to get before settling on its placement. A longer phrase needs room to stay readable.
The same tattoo collection can include a serious line of text and a playful drawing. The pieces don’t have to share one mood to feel personal.
A casual takeaway
The photographs show the placement and appearance of Jama’s tattoos; their meaning comes from what she has said about them, not from the images alone.
Final take on Maya Jama
Jama’s collection moves between a star-sign symbol, a long phrase and small playful drawings. She has given a reason for some pieces, while others are known mainly from photographs.
Watch the video below for more Maya Jama coverage.












































