Love Island star Maura Higgins has announced her return to the spotlight with an exciting new role. Taking to Instagram, the former reality TV star declared, “I’M BACK!!!!!!!!!”, revealing that she will be bringing fans all the behind-the-scenes gossip from Fiji for Love Island USA. The programme’s official Instagram account also shared the news, posting a photo of Maura in a Paul Gaultier dress with the caption, “This just in… Maura Higgins will be your social ambassador this season, bringing you the BTS scoop all summer!”
This is a significant move for the 31-year-old, who had recently hinted at a big change in her life. Through a series of cryptic Instagram posts, Maura had suggested that she had packed up and moved to Los Angeles. On Monday, she announced that she was taking a break from London, where she had previously been based, for “a long time”. Sharing a photo of a plane’s wing and jet engine soaring through the sky, she bid farewell to London. Hours later, Maura revealed her destination by posting a photo of a busy LA road lined with palm trees, captioning it, “LA it’s been a minute.” She also reposted a message from her friend, influencer Sophia Laura, who wished her luck on her new adventure.
In addition to her career news, Maura’s love life has also been making headlines. She has confirmed her new relationship with Hollywood stunt double Bobby Holland Hanton through an Instagram post. The photo shows Bobby holding Maura’s hand, and the couple has been spotted together on multiple occasions, including a cozy date in London and a PDA-filled getaway to Ibiza. Bobby, who has worked as a stuntman for stars like Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Craig, has become known for his role as Hemsworth’s double in the Marvel films. The pair have even launched a fitness app called Centr together and frequently share photos of each other on social media.
It was reported that Bobby’s ex-wife, Rachel, approves of his relationship with Maura. The couple’s divorce was finalized last year, and Rachel is said to be supportive of Bobby dating someone in the public eye due to his career. Maura’s romance with Bobby marks her first serious relationship since her split from Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice earlier this year. The couple had been together for four months, but Maura removed all photos of them together following their breakup. In the past, Maura has been linked to Love Island co-stars Curtis Pritchard and Chris Taylor, as well as footballer Connor Wickham and former TOWIE star Joey Essex.
Prior to her return to the spotlight, Maura had hinted at potential business opportunities in Hollywood during a visit to Los Angeles in May. Through a series of Instagram stories, she shared glimpses of meetings and expressed excitement about the possibilities. Since rising to fame on Love Island in 2019, Maura has established herself as a successful businesswoman, working as a brand ambassador for Boohoo and Ann Summers, and collaborating with brands like Bellamianta, Oh Polly, and Revolve. She has also ventured into television, appearing on shows like Glow Up Ireland and This Morning, while her modeling career has taken off since signing with Elite Models in 2021.