When reality star Maura Higgins waltzed into the Love Island villa in 2019, there was no way anyone could have predicted she’d be walking the red carpet at Hollywood’s prestigious event, the Golden Globes.

But last night that’s exactly what she did. Commanding the attention of a 1920s screen siren Maura, 35, posed in a Marmar Halim gown while the likes of global music star Snoop Dog stopped her to ask for a picture.

Her trajectory from ITV reality show to the US version of the Celebrity Traitors (which she’s currently starring on) reads like a film script.

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Born in Ballymahon, County Longford, Maura started out working life as a hairdresser before her incredible looks landed her modelling contracts and work as a grid girl.

But it wasn’t until she was cast in the UK version of Love Island that she had her chance to shine thanks to her quick wit and hilarious one-liners - in stark contrast to the usual characters seen on reality shows.

Viewers praised her for being ‘the friend everyone needs’ when she gave harsh truths to her fellow Islanders and when one of the boys quipped that it would be “interesting to see whether she’s all mouth or not” during a night alone with Maura, she shut it down in a moment that has been re-watched more than 2.5 million times on YouTube.

Her appearance prompted American comedian Amy Schumer to say she felt “very connected” to Maura. From there, it initially seemed she’d stay on the standard reality star path she had a relationship with her fellow Love Island, and former Irish Striclty star, Curtis Pritchard, before social media deals came rolling in and she enjoyed stints on Dancing On Ice and I’m A Celebrity.

So far so standard. Until 2023 that is when Maura landed a role as the social media presenter for Love Island USA and the Love Island Games. Just a year later, Maura was given the hosting role for Love Island USA: Aftersun, her fun, sassy style making her an instant hit with viewers.

Maura has been spending an increasing amount of time in the States over recent years, and is currently starring on The Traitors US.

Her stint on the show came after her plans to ‘crack America’ were revealed back in June.

Her appeal has only broadened after the premiere of her debut movie, The Spin, which was met with praise. Sources previously told The Mirror that Maura – who plays Rose in the feel-good flick – was in conversations with Hollywood executives about future roles off the back of her performance.

While her love life has continuously hit the headlines – in early 2025, she split from TOWIE star Pete Wicks after a string of ‘fiery rows’ and just a few months later, she was caught kissing her married jungle campmate Danny Jones at a BRITs afterparty – she's managed to walk away relatively unscathed.

Today, she boasts more than four million followers on Instagram, and she's has signed up with the same publicist as former star of Netflix hit, Selling Sunset, Christine Quinn.

Maura says: “Whatever you want, screenshot it, print it, cut it out, stick everything you want…” And it will come to you? “Yes!” And for her, it’s clearly worked.