Inside Maura Higgins’ Love Life Before DWTS, Traitors

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Maura Higgins has encountered her share of traitors in her decades of dating. 

I’ve always been incredibly loyal in relationships, but honestly, it’s been really hard after being hurt so many times. I actually told Elite Daily a few months ago that I struggle with trust because most of my exes were unfaithful. It’s the main reason I decided to take a year off from dating altogether.

She was talking about why she didn’t mind that Rob Rausch won the $220,800 prize on The Traitors, even though she only received a $16,000 Birkin bag as a consolation prize. She had previously appeared on Love Island UK.

She admitted that if she hadn’t been familiar with his personality, she probably would have been upset enough to cry, leave, and cut off all contact with him.

The 35-year-old is now concentrating on a new venture: she and Ciara Miller from Summer House will be the first contestants on the 35th season of Dancing With the Stars.

The Ireland-born celebrity recently shared at a Hulu event that she’s a firm believer in the power of manifesting. She explained that she had visualized this opportunity on her vision board, and now it’s actually coming true – something she finds incredible. While she knows it will be very challenging, she’s determined to give it her full effort because it’s something she truly wants.

And should she emerge from the ballroom with more than just a mirrorball trophy…

Shortly after the finale of her show Traitors in February, she told Cosmopolitan she’s very selective about who she lets into her life. She’s been focused on her career and personal growth for the past year and isn’t actively looking for a relationship. While she’s not completely closed off to the idea, she’s definitely not spending time looking through her direct messages for potential partners.

Potential suitors, however, might want to ask themselves, “What would Harry Hamlin do?” 

Higgins said she knew she wanted a similar relationship after witnessing Lisa Rinna’s husband speak about her at an event held at their home. She was struck by how much respect and adoration he showed for his wife of almost 30 years.

Higgins admitted that listening to Harry Hamlin made him realize what he wanted in a relationship. He explained, ‘I want someone who will let me be myself and not try to hold me back.’

She’s sure to shine when she starts dancing at the ball. Even though she jokes about being clumsy, she knows plenty of professional dancers she can call for help.

Had Maura Higgins follwed a less high-profile path, she may have rode off into the sunset with Irish car salesman James Finnegan. Meeting as teens, “We were with each other nine years,” the Love Island UK alum detailed to Cosmopolitan in March 2026. “I was engaged. And obviously, when you meet someone young, you don’t really go out for dinner. You kind of just, like, meet up and, like, sit in each other’s cars.”

But eventually they reached the end of the road. “I genuinely believe if I stayed with that partner, I would have never moved out of my hometown and did what I wanted to do with my life,” Higgins continued. “As much as I cared for him, I knew I didn’t want to marry him or have kids with him. And I think that kind of cemented the decision for me.”

A year before appearing on Love Island UK, Gemma Higgins trained with boxing coach Shane McGuigan. In 2018, she worked as a ring girl during the David Haye vs. Tony Bellew fight, while he provided commentary. However, the long distance between them – he was in London and she was in Ireland – ultimately ended their relationship.

As a bit of a Love Island aficionado, I remember Curtis Pritchard starting his journey with Amy Hart. But things definitely took a turn when Maura Higgins entered the villa! They really hit it off, and they left as a couple in 2019. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be long-term, and they went their separate ways in March 2020. It’s a classic Love Island story, really!

I was so caught up in the excitement, but apparently, it wasn’t a real connection for them. As Higgins explained in an interview a while back, being stuck together in that environment can make you think you have feelings for someone you wouldn’t normally. It’s like the pressure cooker of the situation messes with your head!

Shortly after breaking up with Pritchard, Higgins surprised everyone by revealing her new relationship. In a November 2020 Instagram post that has since been deleted, she announced that fellow Islander Chris Taylor was her boyfriend. Taylor confirmed the news in his own post, saying he had fallen in love with his best friend.

After a few months, things cooled off and he found himself back in the “friend zone.” He explained on the 2024 reality show Celebs Go Dating that they became close friends, and eventually, their relationship developed further. However, despite his strong feelings, he didn’t feel like she felt the same way about him.

In June 2021, Maya Higgins was seen with Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice at an Italy Euro 2020 game, sparking rumors of a new romance. While they initially confirmed their relationship on Instagram, by October, it seemed they had gone their separate ways.

While photos surfaced in October 2022 of Higgins kissing Joey Essex from The Only Way Is Essex at the Pride of Britain Awards, Higgins later told RSVP Magazine that he and Maura have always been just friends.

They occasionally run into each other around London, and he playfully explained, “If you’ve seen the photos, it’s clear I didn’t initiate that kiss!”

For almost a year, Gemma Higgins had a wonderful relationship with stuntman Bobby Holland Hanton, who often stood in for actors like Chris Hemsworth. However, in March 2024, she told Closer magazine that she was single again. While she received messages from other men working in the film industry, she wasn’t interested in traveling to Hollywood for dates. She insisted any potential partners would have to come to her!

At the Pride of Britain Awards in October 2024, Higgins was seen dancing with Strictly Come Dancing professional Kai Widdrington, but they were never confirmed to be a couple.

In an interview with The Times in January 2025, Higgins stated she wasn’t actively looking for a partner, specifically when asked about her connection with fellow TOWIE star Pete Wicks. However, she added that she’s open to dating and seeing if anything develops.

I’ve always seen a real connection between her and Wicks. He explained on the We Need to Talk podcast that they just get each other – they share a similar sense of humor, and she’s incredibly smart, which he feels people often miss. He also said they’ve been close for about six years, always supporting each other from a distance, just as friends, through everything.

By February, their relationship had become strained, and Higgins conspicuously displayed roses she’d bought for herself on Valentine’s Day.

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2026-04-23 17:49