Maura Higgins, a 35-year-old Irish reality television personality, presenter and model, first captured the public’s attention in 2019 when she entered the fifth series of Love Island UK as a late arrival. Born on November 25, 1990, in Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland, she grew up in a small town with two sisters and one brother. Her parents are divorced and dating other people.
After leaving school at 16, Higgins studied hairdressing in Athlone and worked at a local salon before switching to a role with Monster Energy. In 2018, she went viral for drifting a car in Abu Dhabi as part of a campaign intended to encourage women to drive. She also appeared in the visual campaign for Liam Payne’s 2017 single “Get Low” and worked as a ring girl for professional boxers, including Anthony Joshua.
Key Insights
- Higgins is one of the few Love Island stars who transitioned into multiple major reality formats, including Dancing on Ice, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, and Cooking with the Stars.
- Her direct, bold personality on Love Island created a lasting fan base that translates into strong social media engagement – she now has over 4 million Instagram followers.
- Persistent public curiosity surrounds her hair, net worth, and relationship status, indicating a need for a single authoritative resource.
- The 2026 search trend suggests speculation about future projects, likely linked to a potential return to competitive reality shows or new formats.
Snapshot Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maura Higgins |
| Date of Birth | 25 November 1990 |
| Age | 34 years old (2025) |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Hair Colour (Real) | Dark brown/brunette |
| @maurahiggins (4M followers) | |
| First Big Break | Love Island UK Series 5 (2019) |
| Notable Shows | Dancing on Ice, I’m a Celebrity, Cooking with the Stars |
| Net Worth (est.) | £500,000 – £1,000,000 |
| Relationship Status | Private (previously linked to Greg O’Shea, Chris Taylor) |
What Happened to Maura Higgins After Love Island?
After finishing fourth in the Love Island villa in 2019, Higgins wasted little time pivoting into a broader television career. Her blunt one-liners and unapologetic style made her one of the most memorable contestants of the series, and producers quickly snapped her up for other shows.
What TV Shows Has Maura Higgins Been On?
In 2020, she took part in Dancing on Ice (Series 12) partnered with Alexander Demetriou. The following year, she presented the Irish version of Glow Up and made guest appearances on This Morning and Celebrity Juice. In 2022, she competed on Cooking with the Stars. From 2023 onward, she served as a social media presenter for Love Island USA and Love Island Games, and later presented Love Island USA: Aftersun and Love Island Games: Aftersun. She also guest presented two episodes of the main Love Island USA show in Season 6.
Is Maura Higgins in The Traitors?
Yes, Higgins appeared as a contestant on the fourth season of The Traitors US in 2026. She reached the finale after 11 episodes and finished as the Runner-Up. The show marked her first major US reality competition and significantly raised her profile in the American market.
Higgins has appeared in nine different television formats since leaving Love Island – a rate of roughly one new show per year. This includes an acting debut in the film The Spin (released Spring 2024).
What Is Maura Higgins Net Worth and Personal Life?
Higgins’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, but industry estimates typically place it between £500,000 and £1,000,000. Her income streams include presenting fees for Love Island USA, modelling contracts with Elite Model Management, brand partnerships, and appearances on major US shows such as The Traitors and Dancing with the Stars.
Who Is Maura Higgins Dating?
Higgins has been linked publicly to several men since her time on Love Island. She briefly dated Curtis Pritchard after the show (they split in March 2020 amid cheating allegations). In 2021, she was in a relationship with former Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice, which ended in October of that year. From 2023 to 2024, she dated Bobby Holland Hanton, a stunt double for Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Craig. In 2025, she was linked to reality star Peter Wicks, but they split around Valentine’s Day. As of June 2026, she appears to be single.
How Many Followers Does Maura Higgins Have on Instagram?
Her Instagram account @maurahiggins has over 4 million followers. She posts regularly about outfits, career updates, and personal moments. The account is verified and serves as a primary platform for her brand collaborations.
What Is Maura Higgins Real Hair Color and Style?
Public curiosity about Higgins’s hair has persisted since her Love Island days. Her natural hair colour is dark brown. She studied hairdressing in Athlone and worked in a salon before her media career, indicating professional knowledge of her own hair. On screen, she is often seen with lighter shades, likely achieved through dye or extensions. The fascination reflects the intense scrutiny reality stars face about their appearance and has kept her in the news cycle on and off for years.
Higgins left school at 16 to study hairdressing, which gave her a technical understanding of colour and styling that she applies to her own looks. This background helps explain her frequent hair transformations.
No official statement has been made about whether Higgins wears wigs or extensions. The colour changes seen on television are not publicly documented, so the exact timeline of her dye history remains unconfirmed.
What Is Maura Higgins Doing in 2026?
2026 has been a landmark year for Higgins. She was a contestant on The Traitors US Season 4, where she finished as the Runner-Up. In April 2026, she was announced as the first contestant for the 35th season of Dancing with the Stars (US), which streams on Hulu. This marks her return to competitive dance television, following her earlier appearance on Dancing on Ice in 2020.
Speculation also surrounds potential future projects, including a possible role in The Traitors UK, a new fashion or beauty brand launch, or an expansion of her podcast. As of mid-2026, none of these have been confirmed.
What Is Maura Higgins’s Career Timeline?
- 2019 – Appears on Love Island UK Series 5 as a “bombshell” on Day 10; finishes fourth with Curtis Pritchard on Day 58.
- 2020 – Competes on Dancing on Ice (Series 12) partnered with Alexander Demetriou.
- 2021 – Presents the Irish version of Glow Up; guest appears on This Morning and Celebrity Juice.
- 2022 – Contestant on Cooking with the Stars.
- 2023 – Social media presenter for Love Island USA and Love Island Games.
- 2024 – Contestant on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (UK); makes acting debut in the film The Spin.
- 2024–2025 – Presents Love Island USA: Aftersun and Love Island Games: Aftersun; guest presents two episodes of Love Island USA Season 6.
- 2026 – Runner-Up on The Traitors US Season 4; announced as first contestant for Dancing with the Stars US Season 35.
What Is Known and What Remains Uncertain About Maura Higgins?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Born in 1990 in Ballymahon, Ireland. | Exact net worth is not publicly disclosed; estimates range from £500,000 to £1,000,000. |
| Rose to fame on Love Island Series 5 (2019). | Current relationship status is private as of 2025. |
| Has over 4 million Instagram followers. | Whether she will join The Traitors UK in future seasons is unconfirmed. |
| Real hair colour is dark brown. | Details about a potential 2026 project (music, TV, or podcast) are speculative. |
| Participated in Dancing on Ice, I’m a Celebrity, The Traitors US, and announced for Dancing with the Stars US. | No confirmation on whether she has a podcast as of 2026 (rumoured but not verified). |
What Is Maura Higgins’s Impact on Reality TV?
Higgins leveraged a memorable personality – bold, humorous, direct – to secure roles across multiple major UK and US reality shows. Her trajectory from Love Island contestant to multi-format television personality is unusual. Few reality stars from the UK circuit have successfully crossed over into American formats like The Traitors and Dancing with the Stars.
Social media monetisation has been central to her brand. On Instagram and TikTok, she aligns with fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands, capitalising on the audience she built during her Love Island stint. The persistent public curiosity about her net worth reflects a broader trend: fans use financial estimates as a yardstick for post-show success, often comparing her to peers such as Molly-Mae Hague.
Where Can You Find Reliable Information About Maura Higgins?
The most authoritative sources include Wikipedia, her verified Instagram account, and IMDb. TV Insider and USANetwork have published profiles. No single source covers all aspects of her life comprehensively, which is why this article attempts to gather verified facts in one place. Below are two relevant profiles of other reality personalities for comparison:
- Scarlett Moffatt – Partner, Baby and Career Update 2026
- Gemma Collins – Biography, Net Worth, Weight Loss and Relationship
“Maura was one of the most memorable contestants of that series. Her blunt one-liners became instant classics.”
— Reality TV podcast host (source: justmaurawithyou.com)
“I don’t take myself too seriously. I am who I am.”
— Maura Higgins, interview with The Irish Independent (2021)
What Is the Key Takeaway About Maura Higgins?
Maura Higgins has evolved from a Love Island bombshell into a multi-platform reality television personality with a strong social media presence. Her career spans nine different UK and US shows, an acting debut, and an upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. While her exact net worth and relationship status remain private, her public trajectory shows a calculated and successful transition from reality contestant to television regular. For further context, see the profile on Gemma Collins – Biography, Net Worth, Weight Loss and Relationship, another star who followed a similar post-reality path.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maura Higgins
How tall is Maura Higgins?
Maura Higgins is approximately 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m).
Who is Maura Higgins dating?
As of 2025, her relationship status is private. She was previously linked to Greg O’Shea and Chris Taylor.
Does Maura Higgins have a podcast?
Yes, she launched ‘The Maura Higgins Podcast’ in 2022.
What is Maura Higgins real name?
Maura Higgins is her real name; she does not use a stage name.
What is Maura Higgins’s shoe size?
Not publicly confirmed (estimated UK size 6–7).
Is Maura Higgins controversial?
She has been praised for her directness on Love Island, but also faced minor criticism for her confrontational style. Nothing major.
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Diane Forbes leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections review at Southampton Wire.