Maura Higgins has made a brutally honest confession about her dating habits — revealing she now checks a man’s phone just one week into a relationship due to what she calls her “serious trust issues.”
The Traitors US star, 35, admitted she has turned into an “investigator” when it comes to men, after years of feeling let down in relationships and being repeatedly hurt.
Speaking candidly in a new interview with Glamour Magazine, Maura opened up about her personal red, green and beige flags — and didn’t hold back when it came to her own flaws.
“I’d say my biggest red flag in a relationship is I’ve got serious trust issues,” she admitted.
“If I’m dating you and it’s only a week in, I’ve already gone through your phone.”
She added: “I’ve turned into a bit of an investigator because men have done me dirty.”
Maura went on to joke that while some people might call this behaviour a “beige flag,” she fully accepts it’s a red one.
“So like, I mean, I’d probably say it’s a beige flag, but we call it red,” she said.
“We call it red because it’s not okay to go through someone’s phone — but I’m going to do it again.”
Her comments come after a very public fallout with ex-boyfriend Pete Wicks last year, when Maura suggested he had been unfaithful after discovering messages to other women on his phone.
At the time, insiders told Daily Mail that Pete strongly denied the claims, insisting he had never cheated and was deeply hurt by the accusations.
Maura, who has frequently dated in the public eye, has experienced a string of high-profile romances over the years.
She first found love with Curtis Pritchard during her time on Love Island, before later dating fellow islander Chris Taylor. Following their split, she went on to date former Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice, though their relationship ended after just four months.
In 2022, Maura was spotted sharing a kiss with TOWIE star Joey Essex at the National Television Awards, though both denied being romantically involved.
In March 2024, she split from stuntman Bobby Holland Hanton after ten months together. Later that year, she was also seen sharing what was described as a “drunken kiss” with McFly singer Danny Jones — who has been married to wife Georgia for over a decade — at Universal Music’s BRIT Awards afterparty.
Most recently, Maura has sparked fresh romance rumours with her Traitors US co-star Rob Rauch, 27, after fans picked up on apparent chemistry between the pair.
The speculation intensified after Maura appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where she was quizzed about the online buzz surrounding her and Rob.
“The internet wants you and Rob to get together, and?” Andy asked.
“I saw — there’s a lot of videos on TikTok at the moment,” Maura replied.
When pressed further on whether anything had happened between them, she teased:
“You’ll have to watch the show to see if that happened.”
In the series, Maura plays as a Faithful while Rob secretly takes on the role of a Traitor — adding an extra layer of intrigue to their dynamic.
The pair also share a Love Island connection, with Rob having appeared on Love Island US in 2023 and 2024, while Maura began hosting spin-off show Aftersun in 2024.
Fans have continued to speculate online, with one commenting: “Okay but when are Maura and Rob going to confirm their relationship? They are adorable around each other.”
Whether Maura’s phone-checking habit is a defence mechanism or a dealbreaker remains up for debate — but one thing is clear: when it comes to dating, she’s taking no chances this time.
