Maura Higgins has recalled a terrifying experience when an elderly man broke into her garden and snapped photos of her sunbathing as she opened up about the “downsides” of fame.
The Irish reality star, model and influencer rose to popularity on the 2019 series of Love Island but has admitted that life in the public eye isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be.
She said, “I’ve had groups of people stand outside my window, like groups of young people saying, ‘Maura is in there!’ I’ve had to close my curtains. I think people have figured out where I live now, which obviously isn’t the best because you lose your privacy then.”
“It definitely is scary. Especially with the elderly man, that really scared me.”
CHECK OUT Love Island stars who have recoupled outside the villa
Love Island stars who have recoupled outside the villa slider
1 of 19Yewande Biala and George Rains
Yewande Biala and George Rains were not even in the villa at the same time but outside they seem to be having a whale of a time. Fans were buzzing in August when the Casa Amor star appeared to have Yewande's makeup all over his face.
2 of 19Laura Anderson and Max Morley
Months after Paul Knops dumped her, Laura Anderson moved on and started dating Love Island 2015 winner Max Morley. However the pair have been on-off since then and in July 2019 they called it quits.
3 of 19Kieran Nicholls and Chloe Crowhurst
Two months after Love Island 2018 ended it came to light that Casa Amor star Kieran Nicholls (who lasted on the show for three days) and 2017 contestant Chloe Crowhurst had recoupled outside the villa. It didn't last though because days later he pied her in a brutal public announcement. Ouch.
4 of 19Lucie Donlan and Joe Garratt
They (not the public) branded themselves as 'Juicy' but when Joe Garrett was booted from the villaviewers were shocked that Lucie Donlan didn't follow him. Instead she coupled up with George in Casa Amor and then dumped him before being kicked out the villa alongside him. Weeks after the Love Island 2019 final and Lucie and Joe confirmed on Instagram that 'Juicy' was back together.
5 of 19Arabella Chi and Wes Nelson
Arabella Chi was mugged off by Danny Williams who appeared to be devastated when she left the villa but he quickly bounced back with Jourdan Riane. Luckily the model got over him with Love Island 2018 finalist Wes Nelson and she was recently slated for 'PhotoShopping' a photo alongside her new man.
6 of 19Jon Clark and Chloe Crowhurst
If you cast your mind back to Love Island 2015 you'll remember when Jon Clark famously proposed to Hannah Elizabeth. It didn't last (bless them) and he went on to star on TOWIE. Fast forward a couple of years and he dated Chloe Crowhurst but after the Love Island 2017 line-up was announced he publicly slammed her and revealed they were dating. After she left the villa they briefly reunited before calling it quits.
7 of 19Jon Clark and Elma Pazar
Okay so this one hasn't actually happened but Jon Clark apparently has his eyes set on Elma Pazar. We don't blame him tbh, she's an absolute babe.
8 of 19Kem Cetinay and Kendall Rae-Knight
Days after being the first dumped Love Island 2018 star, Kendall Rae Knight was apparently spotted kissing 2017 winner Kem Cetinay. Although Kem insisted they're just friends.
9 of 19Niall Aslam and Rosie Williams
Love Island fans were devastated when Niall Aslam left the villa after eight days but a few weeks later there was a lot of speculation that he was dating Rosie Williams.
10 of 19Charlie Frederick and Lucie Donlan
Charlie Frederick didn't get the best of chances in the Love Island 2018 villa; he was partnered with the iconic Hayley Hughes but they were quickly dumped. When the 2019 series started Charlie slammed Lucie and said she's "most definitely not looking for love". Lucie didn't take it lightly and clapped back at him.
11 of 19Charlie Frederick and Arabella Chi
Charlie also got with Arabella before she entered the villa. He actually claimed that the model was a 'liar' and hinted they were still dating even when she went into the villa. After being booted from Love Islandshe branded him an 'idiot' and said they had blocked each other before she went on the reality show.
12 of 19Kaz Crossley and Theo Campbell
We really thought Kaz Crossley and Josh Denzel were going to last but alas they didn't. A few months after announcing their split Kaz announced on Instagram that she moved on with 2017 legend Theo Campbell. They since shared cute snaps on social media.
13 of 19Jess Shears and Dom Lever
So Jess and Dom were happily coupled up in the villa but when the boys voted for her to leave they were both left devastated… Dom wasn't that upset though because he didn't follow her. Then there were reports that something went down with Mike Thalassitis but after Dom left Love Island he reunited with Jess, the pair got married and are set to welcome their baby into the world this year.
14 of 19Sam Gowland and Amber Davies
Love Island and Geordie Shore fans were stunned when Chloe Ferry claimed that her ex-boyfriend Sam cheated on her with Amber. Dramz. Sam and Amber have both denied the accusations but Chloe has insisted they're true.
15 of 19Wes Nelson and Amber Davies
In January 2019 following all that Dancing on Ice drama with Vanessa Bauer, Wes Nelson and Megan Barton Hanson split. However a couple of months later there were reports that Wes had been 'sexting' 2017 winner Amber Davies. Then on Celebs Go Dating, Amber claimed he had been messaging another Love Island star before she appeared to brand Amber a "snakey b-tch" on Instagram. Following the whole Amber/Sam allegations, Megan wrote: "Imagine moving like that and lying to numerous heartbroken girls that you ain't sh-gged their ex!"Amber denied the rumours in an emotional tweet.
16 of 19Eyal Booker and Kendall Rae Knight
Tbf, these two did share a little kiss on the main show, but then things got hella steamy and a little weird tbh in the reunion show when they snogged in a swimming pool. Nothing long term came of it.
17 of 19Ellie Brown and Michael Griffiths
Michael and Ellie got together during MTV's Celebrity Ex On The Beach. They both said they were single as the show ended but then posted cute pictures together on social media. However, that came grinding to a halt when Michael started posting cute pictures with other women too.
18 of 19Rebecca Gormley and Biggs Chris
Beauty queen Rebecca chose to couple up with Jordan Waobikeze instead of Biggs in the Love Island villa, following her failed romances with Connagh Howard, Wallace Wilson and Luke Trotman. She clearly regretted her decision though as she coupled up with Biggs just weeks after being dumped and returning to the UK. Despite cheating rumours on both sides, they're still going strong.
19 of 19Luke Mabbott and Lucie Donlan
Romance blossomed for the couple in summer 2020 and they 'confirmed' their relationship status when they shared the same photo (of a hot tub) to Instagram. As is the modern way.
Opening up about one particularly frightening ordeal, Maura told the Daily Star, “I was sitting outside in my dressing gown and I just turned my head and he was so close to me.
“Where my seating area is outside, the bush is right next to it and I looked and saw this man and it was like something from a horror film. He was holding his phone up and I could hear him taking pictures.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God’. That’s definitely one of the downsides to being in the public eye, but the upsides do outweigh the downsides.”
WATCH Love Island is back and we are HERE for these iconic scenes
Look! More news!
Maura Higgins launches collection with EGO and you're going to want it all
Love Island's Joe Garratt splits from girlfriend Desiree Schlotz
Love Island's Anna Vakili unveils results of nose job and lip lift
Maura’s scary story comes after her fellow Islander and best pal Molly-Mae Hague revealed she’s splashed out on 24-hour security to keep herself safe.
In one of her latest YouTube videos, Molly told fans she “doesn’t feel safe anywhere anymore” and has had to go to extreme lengths to protect herself after a fan turned up at her home.
She said, “I didn't feel safe in our last apartment, I don't really feel safe here, I don't really feel safe anywhere anymore because I just feel like no matter how much you try and keep your life private, when you're in the public eye your life is never private.
“It honestly baffles me, I have no understanding how but the amount of PR packages I receive every single day from people all over the UK that know my address. I feel like one brand got hold of my address and have just sent it round. All these different people know my address.”