Maura Higgins: From Love Island to International TV Star

Maura Higgins has come a long way from the girl who walked into the Love Island villa in 2019 and immediately made people pay attention.

With her quick wit, unmistakable Irish accent and fearless way of saying exactly what she thinks, Maura became one of the most memorable personalities from the show's fifth season. But while Love Island gave her the initial spotlight, she didn't stay there for long. Over the years, she has built a career across television, presenting, modelling, fashion, beauty and social media.

Her journey has taken her from Ballymahon in County Longford to some of the biggest entertainment and fashion events in the UK and US. More recently, she has expanded her American television career, appearing on The Traitors US and joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars. ABC describes her as a TV personality, host and creator, while her agency lists her as a presenter, model and digital personality.

So, who is Maura Higgins away from the headlines? Here's a closer look at her early life, career, relationships, net worth, television work, hobbies and everything else you may want to know.

Maura Higgins Quick Facts

Who Is Maura Higgins?

If you first remember Maura from Love Island, it's easy to think of her as a reality TV star who happened to become famous. Her story, however, started well before she entered the villa.

Maura grew up in Ballymahon, a small town in County Longford, Ireland. She left school at 16 and initially trained as a hairdresser, working her way through apprenticeships at local salons. In an interview recalled by RTÉ, she described starting out doing small jobs around salons before gradually gaining experience. At one point, the plan was to build her own clientele and eventually open a salon back home.

Life eventually took her in a very different direction.

Before television fame, Maura worked in modelling and promotional roles. She has spoken about answering an Instagram message looking for Monster Energy promotional models, an opportunity that helped put her on a different path.

Then came Love Island.

Maura Higgins' Early Life and Family

Maura was born on November 25, 1990, in Ballymahon, County Longford.

She was raised by her parents, Sharon and Seamus Higgins, and is the youngest of four siblings. Growing up in a relatively small Irish community gave her a very different starting point from the glamorous international career she has today.

Her education was also rooted locally. She attended Forgney National School before going to Ballymahon Vocational School.

Rather than heading straight into university, Maura left school at 16 and chose a practical career path. Hairdressing was her original ambition, and she trained and worked in salons before her modelling and promotional work began opening other doors.

That early experience in beauty would later prove surprisingly useful. Fashion, hair, beauty and styling eventually became major parts of her public career.

How Maura Higgins Became Famous

Maura's first taste of entertainment came before Love Island. In 2017, she appeared in the music video for "Get Low" by Zedd and Liam Payne, adding another small credit to a career that was still taking shape.

But it was 2019 that changed everything.

Maura entered the fifth season of Love Island as a late arrival. She wasn't part of the original group of Islanders, but she quickly became impossible to ignore.

Her direct personality stood out almost immediately. She wasn't afraid to talk openly about relationships, attraction or what she wanted, and her sense of humour made her particularly memorable with viewers.

Her time on the show eventually led to a relationship with Curtis Pritchard, and the pair reached the final together.

More importantly for Maura's career, Love Island gave her a huge audience that she was able to take with her after leaving the villa.

Maura Higgins' Love Island Journey

When Maura walked into the Love Island villa, she was already experienced in modelling and promotional work. What she didn't yet have was a nationwide television audience.

That changed quickly.

Her confidence and outspoken personality became some of the defining characteristics of her time on the show. She developed a reputation for being honest and saying things other contestants might hesitate to say.

Maura and Curtis Pritchard eventually became a couple and finished fourth in the 2019 series.

For many reality stars, the attention fades once the series ends. For Maura, it became the beginning of something much bigger.

Life After Love Island

Leaving the villa didn't mean leaving television behind.

Maura began appearing on other programs, taking on commercial partnerships and developing her presence in fashion and beauty. She also became increasingly active on social media, where her audience continued to grow.

Her television career gradually moved beyond simply being a reality contestant. She competed on Dancing on Ice, presented Glow Up Ireland, appeared on Cooking with the Stars and later became involved with the American Love Island franchise.

Her move into presenting was particularly significant because it changed the way audiences saw her. She wasn't simply being invited onto television because of her reality-show fame; she was increasingly becoming part of the shows herself.

Maura Higgins' Television Career

Maura has built an impressive television résumé since her Love Island debut.

Her American career has become particularly notable. She became the first UK Love Island contestant to cross into the US franchise in a presenting capacity, later hosting both Love Island USA: Aftersun and Love Island Games: Aftersun.

Maura Higgins on The Traitors US

In 2026, Maura joined the cast of The Traitors US.

The show introduced her to an American audience in a completely different environment from Love Island. Instead of dating and romance being the focus, contestants had to navigate alliances, deception and strategy.

Maura ultimately finished as a runner-up, giving her another major television milestone as her profile continued to grow in the United States.

Maura Higgins on Dancing with the Stars

Her next major television chapter came with Dancing with the Stars in the United States.

ABC lists Maura as part of the show's 2026 cast, continuing the international expansion of her television career.

It is another interesting step for someone whose television career began with a British dating reality show. From the Love Island villa to American network television, Maura's career has steadily moved into a much larger entertainment market.

Maura Higgins' Fashion and Beauty Career

Television isn't the only place where Maura has built her name.

Fashion and beauty have been part of her career from the beginning, and those interests have become increasingly visible as her profile has grown. She has appeared at major fashion and entertainment events and has worked with international beauty and lifestyle brands.

Her agency currently lists partnerships involving L'Oréal Paris, M.A.C Cosmetics, Victoria's Secret, Guess and Alo, among others.

She has also become a familiar face on fashion red carpets, with appearances at events including the TIME100 Gala, British Fashion Awards, Golden Globes and Glamour Women of the Year Awards.

In 2026, she also made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway debut, another step into the fashion world beyond reality television.

Maura Higgins' Business Ventures

Maura's career hasn't been limited to television and brand endorsements.

She is connected with The Flutter Effect Ltd and False Flutter Lashes Limited, both of which are active UK companies with Maura listed as a director.

Her beauty background makes those ventures a natural extension of the career she started building before Love Island.

Her business activities also help explain why her career today looks very different from the one she had when she first entered the villa.

Maura Higgins' Net Worth

There is no publicly verified figure for Maura Higgins' personal net worth.

Various media outlets and online publications have published estimates, but these numbers can differ considerably and should not be treated as official financial information.

RTÉ reported in September 2026 that estimates of her net worth were around €5 million, while earlier reporting on her company finances showed that The Flutter Effect had generated substantial revenue.

Maura's income has come from several different areas over the years, including:

• Television appearances
• Television presenting
• Modelling
• Fashion campaigns
• Beauty partnerships
• Social media collaborations
• Brand ambassadorships
• Business ventures

Her financial success therefore isn't simply the result of appearing on Love Island. She has spent several years turning that initial exposure into a broader entertainment and commercial career.

Maura Higgins' Relationship History

Maura's love life has received plenty of attention since she entered Love Island, although she has also spoken about periods when she has deliberately stepped away from dating.

Her most widely known relationships include:

Her relationship with Curtis Pritchard began inside the Love Island villa and continued after the show.

She later dated professional dancer Giovanni Pernice and was subsequently linked to Hollywood stunt performer Bobby Holland Hanton.

More recently, Maura has been open about choosing not to date. In a May 2026 interview, she said she had been celibate for around a year and a half and wasn't interested in pursuing a relationship at that point.

Is Maura Higgins Married?

No. Maura Higgins is not publicly known to be married.

As of 2026, she has spoken publicly about being single and focusing on her own life and career rather than actively pursuing a relationship.

Does Maura Higgins Have Children?

Maura Higgins has no publicly known children.

She has generally kept certain aspects of her private life separate from her public career, even while being open about some of her relationships and experiences.

Maura Higgins' Height and Appearance

Maura Higgins is commonly reported to be around 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall.

Her appearance and personal style have become a noticeable part of her public identity, particularly as her career has moved further into fashion and beauty.

Exact measurements such as weight are not reliably confirmed and can naturally change over time.

Maura Higgins' Hobbies and Interests

Away from television studios and red carpets, Maura's interests often overlap with the areas she works in professionally.

Fashion

Fashion has become a major part of her public image. She regularly attends fashion events and shares outfits and styling moments with her audience.

Beauty

Beauty has been part of Maura's life since her early hairdressing training. Her later work with cosmetics and beauty brands has turned that early interest into part of her professional career.

Travel

Her television and fashion work has taken her around the UK, Ireland and internationally, and travel frequently appears in her social media content.

Fitness

Maura has also maintained an interest in fitness and an active lifestyle.

Entertainment

Perhaps unsurprisingly, television remains one of her biggest professional interests. Her career has expanded from reality television into presenting and international entertainment.

Maura Higgins on Social Media

Social media has played a huge role in Maura's career after Love Island.

Her audience now extends far beyond the UK and Ireland. Her agency says her combined social media following is more than six million, while RTÉ reported 4.3 million Instagram followers in September 2026.

Her accounts mix professional work with fashion, beauty, travel, television appearances and glimpses of everyday life.

Social Media Accounts

Maura Higgins' Career Timeline

Awards, Recognition and Career Milestones

Maura's career has brought plenty of public recognition, although her biggest achievements have often been career milestones rather than traditional acting or music awards.

She has become one of the most recognizable personalities to emerge from Love Island, and her transition into presenting has helped establish her beyond the reality-TV label.

In 2026, she was named to the TIME100 Creators list, another indication of how much her profile has expanded since her 2019 television debut.

Her growing presence at major fashion events and international television programs has also marked a significant change from her early reality-TV career.

Interesting Facts About Maura Higgins

• Maura was born in Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland.
• She is the youngest of four siblings.
• She left school at 16.
• Her original career ambition was to become a hairdresser.
• She trained and worked in local salons before entering modelling and promotional work.
• She appeared in the "Get Low" music video by Zedd and Liam Payne.
• She entered Love Island as a later arrival in 2019.
• She finished fourth in the fifth season.
• Her relationship with Curtis Pritchard began on Love Island.
• She later moved into television presenting.
• She competed on Dancing on Ice.
• She presented Glow Up Ireland.
• She appeared on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.
• She became a presenter for the American Love Island franchise.
• She later competed on The Traitors US.
• She joined the US version of Dancing with the Stars in 2026.
• She has worked with major fashion and beauty brands.
• She has been listed as a director of two active UK companies connected with her beauty business interests.
• She was included in the TIME100 Creators 2026 list.
• She has built an international audience of more than six million across social platforms, according to her agency.

Frequently Asked Questions About Maura Higgins

Who is Maura Higgins?

Maura Higgins is an Irish television personality, presenter, model and digital creator who became widely known after appearing on Love Island in 2019.

How old is Maura Higgins?

Maura Higgins was born on November 25, 1990, making her 35 years old in 2026.

Where is Maura Higgins from?

She was born and raised in Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland.

What is Maura Higgins famous for?

She first became widely known through the fifth season of Love Island in 2019. Since then, she has developed a career in television presenting, modelling, fashion, beauty and social media.

Is Maura Higgins married?

No. She is not publicly known to be married. In 2026, she said she was not dating and had been celibate for around a year and a half.

Who has Maura Higgins dated?

Her publicly reported relationships have included Curtis Pritchard, Giovanni Pernice and Bobby Holland Hanton. She also had a long-term relationship before her Love Island appearance.

What is Maura Higgins' net worth?

Her exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Media estimates vary, with RTÉ reporting an estimate of around €5 million in 2026.

How tall is Maura Higgins?

She is widely reported to be approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall.

What did Maura Higgins do before Love Island?

Before becoming famous, Maura trained as a hairdresser and worked in salons. She also worked in modelling and promotional roles.

What television shows has Maura Higgins appeared on?

Her television credits include Love Island, Dancing on Ice, Glow Up Ireland, Cooking with the Stars, Love Island USA, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, The Traitors US and Dancing with the Stars.

Is Maura Higgins still working in television?

Yes. Her television career has continued to expand internationally. In 2026, she appeared on The Traitors US and joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars.

What brands has Maura Higgins worked with?

Her agency lists partnerships with brands including L'Oréal Paris, M.A.C Cosmetics, Victoria's Secret, Guess and Alo.

Final Thoughts

Maura Higgins' story is more than a Love Island success story.

The reality show gave her a platform, but what happened afterward was largely about what she chose to do with it. She moved from modelling and beauty work into reality television, then into presenting, fashion campaigns, international television and brand partnerships.

Her career has also changed geographically. What started in Ireland and the UK has increasingly moved toward the United States, with appearances on The Traitors US, Dancing with the Stars and the American Love Island franchise.

For someone who originally imagined a future working in a hair salon in County Longford, the journey has certainly taken an unexpected turn.