Maura Higgins

Maura Higgins is an Irish reality television personality, presenter, and model. She shot to fame in 2019 as a finalist on the fifth season of ITV2's Love Island, where her sharp tongue and unfiltered honesty made her an instant fan favorite. Today, she is a fixture across British and American reality TV, with appearances on Dancing on Ice, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and The Traitors US. Higgins also hosts Love Island USA: Aftersun and Love Island Games: Aftersun, and in 2026 she was named to the TIME100 Creators list. With over 4 million Instagram followers, she blends luxury fashion content with a relatable, straight-talking persona that fans love. [edit]

Maura Higgins grew up in Ballymahon, a small town in County Longford, Ireland. Her parents, Sharon and Seamus, separated when she was young, and she was raised primarily by her mother alongside her two sisters and brother. Money was tight, but Higgins has said her mother worked hard to give them a good life.

She attended Forgney National School and later Ballymahon Vocational School. After finishing school, she studied hairdressing in Athlone and worked at a salon in her hometown. But she wanted more. She took up promotional modeling for Monster Energy and entered beauty pageants, including Miss Sunday World in 2012. A turning point came when a video of her drifting a car in Abu Dhabi went viral. That clip, combined with her modeling work, caught the attention of casting directors and set the stage for her Love Island audition. [edit]

Higgins entered the Love Island villa in 2019 as a late arrival, but she didn't stay in the background for long. Her blunt one-liners and refusal to play games made her a standout. She coupled up with professional dancer Curtis Pritchard and finished fourth. The show was a launchpad.

In 2020, she competed on Dancing on Ice, partnered with Giovanni Pernice. She went on to host the Irish version of Glow Up in 2021 and appeared on Cooking with the Stars in 2022. By 2023, she was the social media presenter for Love Island USA and Love Island Games. In 2024, she hosted Love Island USA: Aftersun and entered the jungle for I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, where she finished fifth. She also made her acting debut in the film The Spin. In 2025, she hosted Love Island Games: Aftersun. Her biggest year yet came in 2026: she was a runner-up on The Traitors US Season 4, named to the TIME100 Creators list, and announced as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars Season 35. [edit]

Higgins is known for her fearless attitude and straight-talking style. She never shies away from speaking her mind, whether on reality TV or social media. Her content focuses on luxury fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, but she keeps it grounded with a cheeky sense of humor. The media often describes her as confident and no-nonsense. She has a strong fan base, especially in Ireland and the UK, who appreciate her authenticity. No official fandom name has been reported. [edit]

Maura Higgins stands as the 23rd most famous person from Ireland, while simultaneously holding the position of the 35th most famous person in Reality TV, according to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings. These placements reflect her sustained dominance across British and American screens. Her trajectory has remained steady since her initial breakout, cementing her status not just as a fleeting reality star but as a fixture in the industry's upper echelons.

Despite her massive digital footprint with over four million Instagram followers, Maura's fanbase operates without a formal moniker. Unlike some contemporaries who have cultivated organized groups with specific titles, her supporters are identified simply by their relentless engagement across her social platforms. They are the ones dissecting every outfit she posts or reacting instantly to her unfiltered commentary on shows like The Traitors US. The community is defined by direct interaction rather than structured campaigns; fans celebrate her authenticity and sharp wit, often rallying around her fashion choices or defending her straight-talking persona against critics. There are no documented charity drives or fan-funded billboards bearing her name, yet the sheer volume of likes and shares on her TikTok content proves a deeply invested audience that follows her career moves with intense interest.[edit]

Before stepping into the spotlight, Maura trained professionally as a hairdresser and worked as a promotional model for Monster Energy, where she was known for handing out drinks at events. A video of her drifting a car in Abu Dhabi went viral prior to her television debut, significantly boosting her public profile. She is celebrated for her thick Irish accent, which remains a favorite topic among her viewers. Currently residing in Essex, England, she maintains partnerships with fashion brands PrettyLittleThing and Oh Polly, whose styles frequently appear in her content.

The cultural mythology surrounding Maura is currently dominated by a high-profile professional dispute involving her dancing career. In August 2026, a public conflict erupted between Higgins and DWTS professional dancer Gleb Savchenko after she refused to partner with him on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. This refusal sparked immediate backlash, with Savchenko responding by calling out Higgins for unnecessary drama and other professionals questioning her talent. While this incident represents a contemporary chapter of friction, her legendary status also stems from her time on Love Island UK in 2019, where her candid personality made her an instant icon. More recently, she added to her fashion lore by debuting a dramatic pixie cut at Paris Fashion Week in July 2026.[edit]

Higgins was born to Sharon and Seamus Higgins in Ballymahon, County Longford. Her parents separated when she was young, and she was raised primarily by her mother. She has two sisters and a brother. The family faced financial difficulties during her childhood. Higgins has spoken warmly about her mother's hard work and support. She does not have children and is currently single, living in Essex. [edit]

Higgins has been romantically linked to several public figures, including Curtis Pritchard, Giovanni Pernice, and Bobby Holland Hanton. She has worked closely with Love Island franchise hosts and producers. Her fellow Traitors US castmate Rob Rausch is a recent associate. [edit]

Higgins coupled up with Curtis Pritchard on Love Island in 2019; they split shortly after the show. In 2020, she was rumored to have briefly dated fellow islander Chris Taylor. Later that year, she began a relationship with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, whom she met on Dancing on Ice. They dated for about a year before breaking up in 2021. She then had a short relationship with stuntman Bobby Holland Hanton in 2021. In 2022, she was briefly linked to rugby player Danny Cipriani. In 2024, rumors surfaced of a reconnection with Love Island winner Greg O'Shea. As of 2026, Higgins is single and focused on her career. [edit]

As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates Maura Higgins' net worth at $3 Million. This figure reflects her diversified income streams, which include substantial television appearance fees and hosting roles such as Love Island USA: Aftersun and appearances on The Traitors US. Her brand partnerships with fashion labels like PrettyLittleThing and Oh Polly contribute significantly to her earnings, alongside revenue generated from paid Instagram posts promoting beauty and lifestyle products. Since her debut on Love Island in 2019, her financial growth has been steady, driven by her ability to blend luxury fashion content with a relatable, straight-talking persona that resonates with millions of followers.[edit]

Maura Higgins has not won any major industry awards to date. Her recognition comes primarily through nominations and honors, such as being named to the TIME100 Creators list in 2026. [edit]