Brief Introduction of Maura Higgins
Maura Higgins is a prominent Irish television personality, model, and presenter who catapulted to fame in 2019 as a contestant on the fifth series of the popular ITV2 reality dating show, Love Island. Known for her unfiltered wit, bold personality, and memorable one-liners, she quickly became a fan favorite. Since her time in the villa, Higgins has leveraged her popularity into a multifaceted and successful career. She has transitioned into television presenting, hosting segments on This Morning and fronting the Irish version of Glow Up. Furthermore, she has established herself as a significant influencer and model, securing lucrative brand collaborations with major fashion and beauty companies, launching her own product lines, and signing with a prestigious modeling agency. Her continued presence on television, both in the UK and the US, has solidified her status as one of Love Island’s most successful alumni.
Maura Higgins Overview
| Full Name | Maura Margaret Higgins |
| Date of Birth | November 25, 1990 |
| Age(as of 2025) | 35 |
| Birthplace | Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland |
| Profession | Television personality, model, presenter |
| Husband/Wife | Not married |
| Family | Sharon (Mother), Seamus Higgins (Father), Becki Higgins (Sister), Louise Higgins (Sister), Jamie Higgins (Brother) |
| Relationship/Affairs(GF/BF) | Formerly dated Curtis Pritchard, Chris Taylor, Giovanni Pernice, and Bobby Holland Hanton. |
| Net Worth | Approximately £3.2 million |
Early Life and Education of Maura Higgins
Maura Higgins was born on November 25, 1990, in Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland, to parents Sharon and Seamus Higgins. She grew up in a lively household with two sisters, Becki and Louise, and a brother named Jamie. Her parents separated during her childhood, and she was raised by her mother. For her education, Maura attended Forgney National School and later went to Ballymahon Vocational School. Following her secondary education, she pursued her interest in beauty and trained as a hairdresser in Athlone. She then put her skills to use, working in a local salon in her hometown of Ballymahon before her career in modeling and media began to take shape. This early experience in the beauty industry would later prove beneficial in her career, particularly with her brand partnerships and media appearances.
Maura Higgins’s Career
Maura Higgins’s career began well before she became a household name on reality television. Initially, she worked as a hairdresser in her native Ireland. Her career path shifted towards modeling, and she began working as a grid girl and promotional model. A significant part of her early career was her work with Monster Energy, which saw her travel to major motorsports events, including the Formula 1 finale in Abu Dhabi. A 2018 video of her drifting a car for a Monster Energy promotion went viral, giving her a taste of online recognition. She also worked as a ring girl for prominent boxing matches, including those featuring Anthony Joshua, and appeared in the 2017 music video for Liam Payne‘s song “Get Low”.
The turning point in Maura’s career came in June 2019 when she entered the fifth series of ITV2’s Love Island as a “bombshell” contestant on day 10. Her confident, outspoken, and humorous personality immediately captivated audiences, leading to the coining of her famous catchphrase “fanny flutters.” She reached the final with her then-partner Curtis Pritchard, and the couple finished in fourth place. Despite not winning, she was widely regarded as one of the breakout stars of the series.
Post-Love Island, Maura’s career soared. She quickly secured a role on ITV’s This Morning, where she hosted an agony aunt segment and a travel series called “Maura’s Ireland”. Her television presence expanded as she competed in the twelfth series of Dancing on Ice in 2020 and later appeared on Cooking with the Stars in 2022, where she reached the semi-final. In 2021, she landed her first major presenting role as the host of the Irish version of the makeup competition show, Glow Up. She has also appeared on numerous panel shows like Celebrity Juice and Loose Women.
Her career has also gained significant traction in the United States. In 2023, she became the social media presenter for Love Island USA and the global spin-off Love Island Games. This led to her hosting the companion show Love Island USA: Aftersun in 2024. In late 2024, she further boosted her profile by entering the Australian jungle as a contestant on the twenty-fourth series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. Her success continues with a confirmed appearance on the fourth season of The Traitors US in 2025.
Beyond television, Maura has built a formidable career as a model and brand ambassador. She signed with the prestigious Elite Model Management in November 2021. She has launched multiple successful collections with fashion brands like Boohoo.com and lingerie giant Ann Summers. Her influence in the beauty industry is marked by collaborations with Inglot Cosmetics for a makeup collection, Bellamianta for a luxury tan range, and her own brand of false eyelashes, “False Flutters,” sold exclusively at Primark. In 2025, she became the face of MAC Cosmetics for the UK and Ireland. In 2023, Maura announced she was making her acting debut in a film titled The Spin, which was released in 2025.
Maura Higgins Personal Life & Family
Maura Higgins was born to parents Sharon and Seamus Higgins and grew up in County Longford, Ireland, with her two sisters, Becki and Louise, and a brother, Jamie. Her parents separated when she was young. Maura maintains a close relationship with her family, particularly her mother, Sharon, whom she gifted a Mercedes-Benz in 2021. Higgins currently resides in Essex, England, having moved there in 2020. In 2024, she announced that she had purchased her dream home in the area.
Her romantic life has often been in the public eye. During her time on Love Island in 2019, she coupled up with professional dancer Curtis Pritchard, and they finished the show in fourth place. Their relationship continued outside the villa but they announced their separation in March 2020. Later that year, in November 2020, she confirmed her relationship with fellow Love Island star and friend, Chris Taylor. However, the couple announced their split in mid-2021, stating they would remain friends.
Following her breakup with Chris, Maura was in a relationship with Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice. They went public in July 2021 but their romance ended in October of the same year. Between 2023 and 2024, she dated Bobby Holland Hanton, a successful stuntman known for his work as Chris Hemsworth’s double. The relationship was confirmed in late 2023 but they reportedly split in early 2024. More recently, she has been linked to reality TV star Pete Wicks, though she has maintained that they are just friends and she is single. Maura Higgins does not have any children.
Awards and Achievements of Maura Higgins
- Won ‘TV Personality of the Year’ at The Gossies Awards in January 2020.
- Won ‘Best Female TV Presenter’ at The Gossies Awards in April 2022.
- Won ‘Most Stylish Lady’ at The Gossies Awards in April 2022.
Maura Higgins Net Worth and Income
As of 2025, Maura Higgins’s net worth is estimated to be around £3.2 million. Her substantial wealth has been accumulated through a variety of successful ventures following her rise to fame. A significant portion of her income comes from her television work, including her appearances on high-profile shows like Dancing on Ice, for which she reportedly earned £150,000, and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, as well as her presenting roles for the Love Island franchise in the USA. Another major source of her earnings is lucrative brand collaborations and endorsements. She has partnered with major fashion and beauty brands such as Boohoo, Ann Summers, Pretty Little Thing, Bellamianta, and MAC Cosmetics, with some deals reportedly earning her six-figure sums. Her own business ventures, including her makeup collection with Inglot and her “False Flutters” eyelash brand, also contribute to her net worth. Additionally, as a major social media influencer, she commands high fees for sponsored posts, with estimates suggesting she can earn up to £10,000 for a single post. Her media company, The Flutter Effect Ltd, also reports healthy profits.
Legacy and Influence
Maura Higgins has crafted a significant legacy as one of the most memorable and successful contestants to emerge from the Love Island franchise. Her influence stems largely from her refreshingly honest, witty, and unapologetically confident personality, which resonated strongly with viewers during her time on the show and beyond. She is often praised for her directness and for challenging traditional reality TV contestant archetypes. This has allowed her to build a strong and loyal fanbase, particularly among young women who admire her self-assurance. Her impact extends into the fashion and beauty industries, where her collaborations often sell out, demonstrating her considerable commercial appeal. By successfully transitioning from a reality TV star to a respected television presenter in both the UK and the US, she has paved a path for other reality personalities to aspire to, proving that fame from the genre can be leveraged into a long-term, credible career in mainstream media. Her public image is that of a strong, independent woman who is both glamorous and relatable, a combination that has solidified her enduring popularity and influence.
Interesting Facts about Maura Higgins
- Before finding fame, she trained as a hairdresser.
- She appeared in the visuals for Liam Payne’s 2017 hit song, “Get Low”.
- In 2018, a video of her drifting a car in Abu Dhabi for a Monster Energy promotion went viral.
- She worked as a ring girl for several professional boxers, including Anthony Joshua.
- She was a finalist in the Miss Sunday World pageant in 2012.
- Maura has made her professional acting debut in the 2025 film The Spin.
- In 2021, she gifted her mother a £60,000 Mercedes-Benz.
- She signed with the world-renowned Elite Model Management agency in 2021 to further her modeling career.
Controversies
While Maura Higgins has enjoyed immense popularity, her career has not been without controversy. In early 2025, she faced significant public backlash after a video surfaced showing her sharing a brief, reportedly drunken kiss with married McFly star Danny Jones at a BRIT Awards afterparty. The two had been campmates on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in late 2024. The incident led to widespread criticism and “horrific” trolling on social media, with many people denouncing her actions. Friends of the star reported that she was “in a bad way” and struggling to cope with the relentless abuse following the event. During the early stages of her fame, she also addressed accusations from online trolls about photoshopping her social media images, which she vehemently denied.
Social Media Presence
- Instagram – Approximately 3.8 million followers
- Twitter – Approximately 215,300 followers
- YouTube – Information not disclosed
Final Words about Maura Higgins
Maura Higgins has successfully transformed her initial burst of reality television fame into a durable and dynamic career in the entertainment industry. Her journey from a small town in Ireland to becoming an internationally recognized presenter and influencer is a testament to her sharp wit, business acumen, and undeniable charisma. She continues to be a prominent figure on television on both sides of the Atlantic, with upcoming projects like The Traitors US poised to expand her audience even further. Having recently purchased her dream home and secured major commercial deals, her career continues on an upward trajectory. Maura’s legacy is that of a trailblazer who defied the fleeting nature of reality TV stardom to build a lasting brand. Her future plans appear focused on solidifying her presenting career and exploring new opportunities, ensuring that she remains a compelling and influential personality for years to come.
