Love Island’s Maura is gagging for ‘fame, not sex’, ex-fiance reveals
DESPERATE Maura Higgins is fame-hungry and faking her sex-mad antics to grab attention on Love Island, her ex-fiance claims.
Mechanic James Finnegan says his first love was a plain and shy girl when they met but she has transformed into a ruthless wannabe.
The brunette, 28, has been labelled by show fans as a sexual predator for repeatedly forcing herself on boxer Tommy Fury, talking about her “fanny flutters” and boasting of sleeping with another woman.
And James, 31, says her antics have surprised locals in her small town of Ballymahon — population 2,674 — in rural Ireland. He also said Maura left him heartbroken after she set her sights on becoming a celebrity overseas. On Wednesday Maura claimed on the show that she has only bedded five men — and one woman. We can reveal that James was her first real love — her partner of nine years.
He told The Sun on Sunday: “The Maura you see on Love Island is not the Maura I know. For me, she is putting on an act. I haven’t watched the scene where she was hitting on Tommy Fury but she never did anything like that to me. I’m not even sure he’s her type.
“Maura does swear but no more than any other person. I don’t know why she is using so much bad language on TV. She never used the expression ‘fanny flutters’ around me. I did see the episode where she was talking about the lesbian thing with the other woman and that surprised me. It must have happened after we broke up because I don’t remember anything like that. She never expressed any interest in women when we were together.
“I think Maura is playing a game and trying to grab attention. But there is a lot of jealousy towards her here, with people bitching behind her back. I think she will be given a hard time when she comes home.”
The shocking antics of the telly man-eater have provoked a huge backlash from Love Island viewers, who have made hundreds of complaints about her unwanted advances on muscle-bound Tommy.
Some even accused her of sexual harassment after she straddled his legs and asked for a kiss, pointing out a man would not have got away with the same behaviour. She was also slammed for telling the female contestants she was a “girl’s girl” while also trying to steal Tommy, 20, from island rival Molly-Mae Hague, 19.
She and James started dating when she was around 18, after growing up together and their families knowing each other. He recalls: “Our first date was to the local cinema. I was nervous because I was so keen.
Jack's back
LAST year’s Love Island winner Jack Fincham has moved on from ex Dani Dyer after asking a stunning girl for a date while on holiday in Ibiza.
In an Istagram video the 28-year-old is seen picking up a brunette in a bright pink bikini and mucking around by the side of the pool at Wi-Ki-Woo Hotel.
He then sits down with her and a pal before saying “we should go on a date” — which is believed to have happened last night.
“She was not the most beautiful girl in town and was much more plain and reserved back then, but I had wanted to go out with her for some time. The first date went well and we had a little kiss. We had a lot in common, we both loved cars. Maura was easy-going back then.”
James says Maura’s personality started to change in her early 20s while still working as a hairdresser in the town’s Occasions salon. He adds: “She started going to modelling and talent contests. I would always support her. She never came first as far as I can remember.
“I think the modelling contests gave her confidence because she had to stand on stage and talk about herself.
“It was around that time she started to become more glam. She wanted to appear in magazines, newspapers and television adverts.
“She used to make me watch shows like Love Island, Geordie Shore, Tallafornia, which is an Irish reality show, and Towie. You could see she was keen on that world.”
Aged 21, Maura was signed to a Dublin modelling agency and became a motorsport promotions girl. Then, in 2014, she got a job with Monster Energy, handing out its drinks at big sporting events.
James said: “Once she signed with Monster she was away most weekends and was travelling all over the world.”
After moving into a two-bedroom rented house in Ballymahon James proposed in 2016. He says: “She said yes straight away. We were excited about spending the rest of our lives together. And while we had not set a date, Maura was looking at dresses.
Danny Doco delay
Exclusive by Thea Jacobs
ISLAND hopeful Danny Williams was delayed heading into the villa by three days after he discovered his passport had been stolen as producers headed to pick him up.
The 21-year-old model from Hull almost jeopardised his chance of finding love in the show with the eleventh-hour discovery at his house in London.
Danny, who is currently coupled up with Yewande, was due to fly out to Majorca on the May 27 Bank Holiday weekend, but was forced to wait for the passport office to open on the following Tuesday to get a new one.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Danny was frantic when he discovered his passport was missing when producers were on their way to get him. Luckily they were very understanding and let him fly out a few days late.”
“Sadly, it didn’t happen. I don’t want to go into the reasons.”
James, who lives with his parents and has not had a serious relationship since the split in September 2017, said: “I don’t know if she outgrew our town but things were bad for a while before it ended. She never cheated on me, as far as I know.” Tragically, the couple’s close friend Andrew Rowan, 26, was killed in a car crash just before the split.
Maura posted a tribute on Instagram saying: “My best friend, my brother, my rock, my world will never ever be the same without you.”
She went on to date TV director Paul Caslin, 36, and split her time between Ballymahon and London.
Bella's fit fella
By Clemmie Moodie
NEW Love Island hopeful Arabella Chi dated a hunky former Royal Marine turned celebrity personal trainer, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
The 28-year-old model, who arrived this week, went out with Jay Copley before splitting with him in February.
The six-packed instructor has trained stars including singer Ellie Goulding, David Beckham and X Factor judge Ayda Field at posh gym chain Barry’s Bootcamp. Londoner Arabella went on holidays with Jay and they got a dog together during the two-year relationship.
A source said: “Jay and Arabella made the perfect couple. They’re two near-perfect specimens. They broke up this year but said they’d try to stay friends. Understandably, Jay isn’t loving see his ex on TV every night.”
James says: “I was pretty heartbroken about the split, it took a long time to get over it. I haven’t spoken to her for six months now.”
He said of her TV appearance: “It was a bit of a shock but I already knew something like that was on the cards. Maura wants to be famous and she is very ambitious and determined.
“I find it difficult to watch the show but I wish her all the best on Love Island — I hope she wins.”
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