Reality television star Maura Higgins is trading the sunny Love Island villa for the misty Scottish Highlands in a thrilling new role. The Irish personality has officially joined the cast of the highly anticipated The Celebrity Traitors USA, set to premiere on January 8.
From Island Vibe to Traitor's Garb
First-look promotional images reveal a transformed Higgins, a world away from her bikini-clad Love Island days. The 34-year-old stuns in a racy green latex outfit, her hair pulled into a severe bun. With minimal cat-eye makeup and a smouldering look directed at the camera, she embodies the very essence of a potential traitor. Her status in the game, however, remains a closely guarded secret until the show's debut on the streaming platform Peacock.
In a teaser video, Higgins issued a stark warning to her fellow contestants, stating, 'If someone comes for me at the roundtable, god love them.' She will be battling it out to win a substantial $250,000 cash prize for her chosen charity.
A Scottish Castle and a Star-Studded Cast
Despite its American cast and title, the series is filmed at the atmospheric Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the same location used for the hit British version. However, Claudia Winkelman will not be presiding over the proceedings. Hosting duties for the US variant have been handed to Scottish acting legend Alan Cumming.
Higgins will not be the only famous face in the castle. She is joined by a roster of well-known personalities, including Donna Kelce, the 74-year-old mother of NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce.
Promising 'Utter Carnage' and a Major Career Move
Discussing the upcoming season, which will also be available for UK audiences on BBC iPlayer, Higgins promised explosive entertainment. She described the events as 'chaos' and 'brutal', teasing a specific scene about halfway through as 'the greatest moment in Traitors' history'.
'Honestly, I just cannot wait for the world to see it,' she told The Playlist. 'It's utter carnage and utter just mad. It’s just brilliant!'
In a significant career development, Higgins has also recently signed with the powerhouse US talent agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which represents A-list clients like Lady Gaga. This move has led fans to speculate that her performance on The Traitors will be a major success, with some suggesting it could mean she wins the entire competition.
The first-look images have already sent fans into a frenzy on social media, with one writing, 'Maura Higgins is back on our screen in January and the excitement is real,' while another declared, 'She's gonna run that castle.' A release date for the series on BBC iPlayer is yet to be announced.
