"Friends Worry for Maura Higgins: Feeling More Alone Than Ever Despite Her Rising Fame in the US"

SERVING up an incredible look in white sling-back shoes with tennis balls pierced into her heels, alongside a Chanel tennis ball-style bag and a white mini dress to match, Maura Higgins was on point when she attended Wimbledon earlier this week.

However, six years after shooting to fame on , the 35-year-old star is still to find her perfect match, and behind that megawatt smile, insiders tell her she’s lonelier than ever.

Maura Higgins appears to be living the dream and is at the top of her game Credit: Getty But behind the glamour, Maura is said to be lonelier than ever before Credit: Getty

Pals are said to be concerned for the star and as her fame gets bigger, her social circle becomes smaller and smaller.

Maura attended day one of this year’s British championships with her close friend, sensation Luke Hamnett, 33, and pal Sophia Laura, 33.

The trio were all smiles as they watched the on-court action just one row in front of , 23 – whose famous father Sir , 51, had a seat in the Royal Box – and his girlfriend, DJ Kim Turnbull, 25. It was a sign of just how valued her fame now is and even Maura couldn’t quite believe it and was spotted sneaking selfies with the lad.

A source said: “Maura looked ace at , but away from the glitz and glamour of the spectacle friends are concerned about her.

“Maura’s social group is now very refined and she has seen less of her family lately.

“She spends a lot of time with Luke and Sophia, but not many other pals.

“Maura is too busy anyway. Her career is thriving beyond belief.

“However, being busy and her increasing fame has its drawbacks, especially when it comes to her love life.

“She feels lonely. Men don’t approach her much. They feel intimidated by her, but, despite her no-nonsense persona on reality shows, she would love to strike up a strong connection with a caring and compassionate guy.

“For now, she’s distracting herself with her ever-increasing workload.”

Earlier this year, Maura insisted she wasn’t even considering and hadn’t had sex in over a year.

For the star who coined the term ‘f*** flutters’ to be celibate, was a surprise to many.

“I don’t want to bring just anyone into my energy. It wasn’t even a plan to be celibate. I didn’t put a timeline on it,” she said.

“I wanted to focus on me, my career, and my energy. Now that it’s been over a year, I don’t even think of men.”

However, Maura is no stranger to putting work over friends and family.

She grew up in a tight-knit family in Ireland alongside two sisters, fitness instructor Louise, 38, and model Becki, 33, and a brother, who has never been named publicly.

Maura missed Louise’s wedding while she was in the Love Island villa in 2019.

Maura rose to fame on Love Island in 2019 Credit: Rex Features She’s come a long way since then and is considered one of Love Island’s most famous exports Credit: Getty

While Louise gave her blessing for Maura to skip her big day, the star’s relationship with her sisters felt further strain when she moved to London off the back of Love Island – and she previously said she was “scared” and “very alone” during that period of her life.

Maura now spends plenty of time Stateside after cracking America.

Following her Love Island stint, she appeared on reality TV shows Dancing on Ice and , before landing a social presenter gig, and then After Sun hosting role, on and .

Earlier this year, Maura starred on US season four, alongside the likes of The of Beverly Hills star , pro Mark Ballas – the son of head judge – and ‘s mother Donna Kelce.

Faithful Maura reached the final of the ultimate game of deceit and deception, but she lost out to Traitor Rob Rausch.

Maura was romantically linked to former Love Island USA star Rob throughout the series, but she later confirmed that “nothing ever happened” between them, telling Us Weekly: “I genuinely look at Rob like a brother. Literally nothing ever happened.”

“People online are saying I’m ‘d**kmatized. Believe me, you would know if I was d**kmatized. If they think that’s me flirting, then they do not know me and they have never watched me on Love Island.”

While she didn’t find love on The Traitors US, Maura’s stint on the show massively boosted her profile across the pond, and it ultimately led to Dancing With the Stars bosses signing her up for the forthcoming 35th season of America’s version of Strictly.

She dated Curtis Pritchard after meeting on the show but it wasn’t to last Credit: Getty Maura then dated another Love Island star – Chris Taylor Credit: Instagram

Earlier this month, The Sun told how Maura is poised to pen a deal with Disney+ to be the face of the rebooted version of iconic show .

A new version of the programme – previously hosted by the late – is due to start filming later this year, and Maura is said to be a “perfect choice” for the job.

But it will be another role with a “cruel irony” for the single star.

A source told us: “Maura is well regarded as one of, if not the, most successful Love Island UK stars ever in terms of her career development and earnings since leaving the villa.

“But, somewhat ironically, she hasn’t been successful when it comes to finding her perfect match – the premise of the show that put her on the showbiz map.

“Hosting Blind Date to a global audience on Disney+ will be yet another fantastic career move for Maura.

“Her charm and charisma will be vital when chatting to the contestants and helping them to hook up with each other.

“But there is a cruel irony there.”

Maura has had several romantic connections in the past, but there have been raised eyebrows about some, including when she hooked up with Love Island co-star , 30.

While that didn’t work out, with the pair going their separate ways eight months after they departed the villa, she went on to date fellow former Love Island star , 35, ex-Strictly Come Dancing pro dancer , 35, stuntman Bobby Holland Hanton, 42, and she was even romantically linked to TOWIE star , 37.

However, Maura’s most controversial connection came off the back of her ! stint in 2024.

Three months after departing the Australian jungle, she was reunited with her co-star and King of the Jungle, married star , at the BRIT Awards in March 2025.

The pair were spotted kissing following the spectacle, which led to Danny issuing a public apology to his wife, Georgia Horsley, who he married in 2014.

Maura faced a huge backlash afterwards, and she fled the UK for to distance herself from the scandal.

It was a very savvy move for Maura, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame there. One that her rival Olivia Attwood has failed to achieve.

A source said: “Maura’s career Stateside really took off after her The Traitors US stint, and she hasn’t looked back.

“She has become a global star, and her career will be further boosted when she struts her stuff on Dancing With the Stars. Olivia is secretly jealous.

“She’s tried to crack America, but it hasn’t happened yet, and Maura keeps landing these huge shows.”

While Molly-Mae, Maura’s close friend and most successful islander of all time, concentrates on family life, Maura has taken the career baton.

“If Maura keeps progressing her career there could be no end to her achievements,” the source added.

“Her Dancing With the Stars stint could lead to global brand deals worth £10 million or more over the coming years. It can help set her up for life.”

However, while a successful spell on the show may open many doors, Maura desperately wants someone to open the door to her heart, too.