Maura Higgins has revealed she has been celibate since her split from ex boyfriend Curtis Pritchard.
The couple got together on last year’s series of Love Island but ended their romance in March and Maura, 29, has now revealed she feels ready to start dating again.
Speaking to The Sun, she said: ‘Dating in lockdown is impossible. To be honest though I’ve never really been one for dating. I’m not used to it at all. My first ever date was my ex-boyfriend, the guy I was with before Love Island.
Single: Maura Higgins, 29, has revealed she has been celibate since her split from ex boyfriend Curtis Pritchard, 24
‘Then on the show, although you’re dating in a whole different world. For me lockdown definitely ruined everything but I don’t think I would have jumped straight back into dating.’
Maura added that she is not the sort of person to get into a relationship too quickly and likes to take time for herself following a breakup.
The Irish beauty, who reached the final of Love Island with Curtis, added that you need to love yourself before you can love someone else.
She said: ‘I definitely feel ready to meet someone now. I’ve been single for seven months – and I’ve spent a lot of time taking care of myself so now I do feel ready to settle down.’
Former flame: The couple got together on last year’s series of Love Island but ended their romance in March and Maura has now revealed she feels ready to start dating again
Elsewhere in the interview, Maura insisted she is just friends with fellow Love Island star Chris Taylor who she has been rumoured to be dating in the past.
The TV star said she is presumed to be dating every man she is seen with and if she were dating Chris, she wouldn’t feel the need to keep it a secret.
Maura came sixth on this year’s Dancing On Ice with her professional skating partner Alexander Demetriou.
Imparting advice on the next crop of contestants, which includes Myleene Klass and Denise Van Outen, Maura said not to ‘overthink’ their performances.
Maura said: ‘I’ve never really been one for dating. I’m not used to it at all. My first ever date was my ex-boyfriend, the guy I was with before Love Island’
The beauty added that she reckons if she had relaxed a bit more during her time on the show, she would have made it to the final.
Along with rumours about Chris, Maura was also linked with Alexander during their time on Dancing On Ice.
Maura was still dating Curtis at the time while Alexander was married to fellow skater Carlotta Edwards.
Curtis and Maura split up – although she always denied any romance with her pro partner. And in April, shortly after the series concluded, so did Alexander and Carlotta.
Pals: Maura insisted she is just friends with fellow Love Island star Chris Taylor, 30, who she has been rumoured to be dating in the past
He wrote on Instagram at the time: ‘Carlotta and I have separated. Although it saddens… I feel this is best for the both of us.’
Alexander and Carlotta have been axed from the line-up of the upcoming series and have been replaced with another married duo, Andy Buchanan and Robin Johnstone.
It comes after Maura played down her ‘man-eater’ reputation by admitting she’s ‘only ever been on one date’ and is ‘scared’ to meet a new boyfriend.
Speaking to MailOnline, she said: ‘I am ready to start dating again. But the thing is I’ve only ever been on one date aside from Love Island.
Partners: Along with rumours about Chris, Maura was also linked with Alexander Demetriou during their time on Dancing On Ice but always denied there was a romance between them
‘I know we did a lot of dating on the show but you’re in a completely different environment.
‘Putting that aside, I’ve been on one date and that was with the guy I was with before Love Island, so I’m not used to the dating scene at all.
‘I’m 29 and I’ve been on one date! When I think of it like that it’s quite scary.
‘I would be a nervous wreck on a date, which sounds crazy because I’m a confident woman but I wouldn’t know what to do myself.’
Reputation: It comes after Maura played down her ‘man-eater’ reputation by admitting she’s ‘only ever been on one date’ and is ‘scared’ to meet a new boyfriend