From grid girl to global presenter: the rapid ascent of Maura Higgins
In short: Born in County Longford, Maura Higgins transitioned from a career as a grid girl and model to becoming a prominent fixture in international reality television. Since her 2019 breakthrough on Love Island, she has built a multifaceted career spanning presenting, acting, and high-profile brand collaborations across the UK and Ireland.
Maura Higgins, born on 25 November 1990, began her professional life in hairdressing before moving into modelling and promotional work. Her early career included roles as a grid girl for Monster Energy, which saw her travelling to Abu Dhabi for the Formula 1 finale in 2017. She gained wider attention in 2018 for a viral video demonstrating car drifting to encourage women in the region to drive. By 2019, she was working as a ring girl for professional boxers, including Anthony Joshua, shortly before her television career took off.
Her mainstream prominence began in June 2019 as a bombshell contestant on the fifth series of Love Island. Following her fourth-place finish, Higgins leveraged her platform to secure various presenting roles and brand partnerships. Her portfolio includes collaborations with Bellamianta, Boohoo, Ann Summers, and Inglot Cosmetics. In 2025, she became the face of MAC Cosmetics UK and Ireland. Her television work has been extensive, ranging from reality competitions like Dancing on Ice and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! to hosting duties for Love Island USA: Aftersun and the Irish version of Glow Up.
Beyond unscripted television, Higgins has moved into acting, securing a role as Rose in the 2025 film The Spin. The film, directed by Michael Head, received critical recognition, winning Best Irish Feature Film at the Dublin International Film Festival and Best Feature Film at the Istanbul International Film Festival. Now based in Essex, where she purchased a home in 2024, Higgins continues to balance global presenting commitments with her evolving career in film and fashion, marking a significant trajectory from her beginnings in Ballymahon.
Her success is often measured by her ability to pivot between diverse media formats, from hosting podcasts to participating in high-stakes reality games like The Traitors US, where she finished as runner-up in 2025. By maintaining a consistent presence across both traditional media and digital platforms, she has established herself as a versatile personality within the contemporary entertainment landscape.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Maura Higgins
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-maura-higgins.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in UK & Irish culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
