Sophia Michaels
“Love Island” alum Maura Higgins admits it’s easy to forget the cameras are rolling 24/7 while living in the reality show’s iconic villa.
The Irish TV personality — who is the new social ambassador for “Love Island USA” — recalls saying “filthy, disgusting” things while filming the fifth season of “Love Island U.K.” in 2019.
“At the beginning when you’re new to it, you take off your microphone and you leave it outside the [toilet] door because you’re like, ‘I don’t want anyone listening to me,’” she tells Page Six exclusively.
“But after about a week that completely goes out the window. You do not care,” she continues.
“I was changing tampons in the dressing room, that’s how comfortable you get.”
Higgins, who recently jetted off to Fiji where the USA edition of the reality franchise is currently filming, reveals she got to explore parts of the villa that she never saw as a contestant.
“Obviously, we know that there are so many cameras, but there’s [also] so many tech rooms with all the different screens,” she says.
“There’s this room with a massive long table and a massive screen where the execs of the show sit down and watch,” the “Dancing on Ice” alum, 32, adds.
“I remember going, ‘Oh my god, do you reckon people did this in the U.K. and watched me because I was disgusting?’ And they were like, ‘Oh 100 percent, they were watching you.’”
“You really don’t think about that when you’re on the show.”
The brunette bombshell also dishes on “Vanderpump Rules” star Ariana Madix’s visit to the villa earlier this week.
“I’d never watched [‘Pump Rules’], but after hearing about it I need to catch up because it sounds incredible,” Higgins tells us.
“I cannot believe what [Ariana’s] been through. Meeting her was amazing, she is such a sweet girl,” she adds, referencing Madix’s high-profile split from Tom Sandoval.
“Scandoval” made headlines earlier this year after it was revealed that the Bravo star’s longtime boyfriend cheated on her for months with their castmate Raquel Leviss.
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Madix, 38, recently made a brief cameo on “Love Island USA” to host the “Mr. and Mrs.” challenge with the show’s contestants.
“i can’t believe i’m popping in the @loveislandUSA villa this week! like.. i am GATHERED around the fire pit!” she captioned an Instagram post.
The Bravolebrity threw shade at her ex Sandoval, 40, during her time in the villa, telling the competitors, “I can’t wait to see who’s actually been taking the time to get to know one another.”
“Take it from me, it’s important to know who you’re dating or sharing a bed with,” Madix continued. “And if they’re not the one for you, trust me, it’s better to find out sooner rather than later.”
“Love Island USA” streams every day except Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT on Peacock.
