Maura Higgins Was Not ‘Dickmatized’ by Rob Rausch

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Maura Higgins is a well-known personality in the UK, first gaining fame on the 2019 series of Love Island U.K. She quickly became popular for her honest and humorous personality – from memorable moments like accidentally swallowing a fly to confidently calling out bad behavior, she was a fan favorite. Since then, she’s become a regular on British television, appearing on shows like I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! and Cooking With the Stars. In 2024, she began expanding her career in the United States, hosting the Aftersun aftershow for Love Island USA, followed by her appearance on The Traitors.

The reality show Traitors brings celebrities to a Scottish castle to play a high-stakes version of Mafia, and Ireland-born Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu found herself quite unprepared when she joined season four. She was the only contestant not from the U.S. in the show’s history, hadn’t seen the show before, and only knew one other player, Rob Rausch, from a brief work connection. However, being the outsider quickly made her likable to American viewers, who enjoyed watching her make friends and react to the game’s surprises. Viewers also felt sorry for her as she formed an alliance with Rausch, who they knew was secretly working against the group. In the end, Cülcüloğlu and Rausch were the last two players, and he revealed he’d been deceiving her the entire time. Her shocked response – “You’re never gonna have a girlfriend after this,” followed by “You’re such a good liar” – is already becoming a famous moment in reality TV history. Though initially upset, she later admitted at the reunion that he had played the game as he needed to.

Higgins is now likely to become a well-known figure in American pop culture. Past finalists on the show The Traitors, like winners Gabby Windey and Dylan Efron, have used their appearances to launch careers in television and podcasting, and Higgins and Rausch appear ready to do the same. “I’m really happy I did the show,” Higgins says. “I was worried I’d regret it, but the interesting conversations it’s sparked have been amazing.”

Wow, now that the show’s finally finished and everyone’s had a chance to process it, I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything! Honestly, when it happened, it was a total shock. I went through all the feelings in those few minutes – first, I couldn’t believe it was real. Then it hit me – ‘Wait a minute, he’s serious!’ After that, I was angry, then really sad, and finally I just kept telling myself, ‘It’s just a game, it’s just a game.’

Watching it back was tough. It really brought back all the emotions I was feeling at the time. But I’m honestly okay with everything that happened. I gave it my all, and I never imagined I’d get so far. I made some incredible friends, and ultimately, it’s just a competition. I’m proud of how I acted – I stayed calm and didn’t let anger get the better of me. I think I avoided letting the more dramatic side of my personality show.

She never seemed interested in revealing her role. If she had wanted to, she would have. I personally wasn’t hesitant to act. I understood the game, and I knew Rob, as a Traitor, was supposed to influence the Faithful players, which he did effectively. It wasn’t just me who trusted him, though – most of the castle did. Candiace voted for him twice, and Eric once, and they knew he was a Traitor. Notably, no Faithful player voted for him.

I’d seen you interviewing Rob on Love Island: Aftersun before he went into the villa. Did having that history make it easier to connect with him? When we first met after getting out of the cars, I was really relieved to see someone I recognized. I didn’t know anyone else there – I’d never watched shows like Survivor, Housewives, or Big Brother. It wasn’t that Rob and I knew each other because of the interview, but it was comforting to have one familiar face among all the new people.

You know, people have been asking me what I thought of Rob on Love Island. Honestly, I didn’t really form an opinion watching him. I’ve been on the show myself, so I get how things can look. He even admitted he messed up a bit, and let’s face it, we all do! I just didn’t want to judge him based on a heavily edited reality show. I prefer to form my own opinions, not based on what I see on TV.

A lot of people in the US might not know me yet, but I’m pretty well-known in the UK from being on reality TV. I think people there see me as someone who doesn’t put up with nonsense. That impression comes from my time on Love Island, and it’s really just how I am – I don’t tolerate disrespect.

Honestly, it really bothers me to see people online saying things like Maura is trying to impress men or that she’s somehow diminished herself. It’s totally the opposite! I refuse to tolerate disrespect from anyone, and I’ve always been the one to end things in my relationships. I’ve never been dumped – I’ve done the breaking up every time, because I won’t stay with someone who disrespects me or cheats. I just won’t put up with that.

You can’t please everyone, and I’m not trying to. Public opinion doesn’t really affect me – the people who matter, my family and friends, know who I truly am, and I’m not easily bothered by criticism.

Honestly, most of the reaction I’ve seen from viewers of Traitors has been really positive! Sure, there’s been some negativity here and there – you always get that on any show – but I’m overwhelmed by the support I’m receiving, especially on social media and in my direct messages. It means a lot. I think people generally see things the same way I do: it’s just a game! I definitely made a mistake trusting the wrong person, but let’s be real, everyone ended up trusting the wrong person in that game.

Do you believe Rob’s good looks contributed to his success? No, I don’t think so. I’ve read opinions on that, but I disagree. I believe his skill was the real reason he did so well, and I truly mean that.

People keep asking what Rob did so well on the show. He was consistently himself, both on Love Island: Aftersun and during The Traitor. He didn’t change his behavior at all, which is what I’d expect from a Traitor – they’d likely be more guarded. A lot of viewers say he was an obvious Traitor, but that’s easy to say after you know he was one. Remember when Donna Kelce was secretly a Traitor? Hardly anyone guessed it! I watched with friends, and they were completely surprised. It’s simple for viewers to claim someone is an obvious Traitor in hindsight. If it were that easy to spot them, the show wouldn’t be so good! We’re not mind readers, after all.

Rob mentioned at the reunion that you seemed a little flirty. What’s your take on that? Also, did you notice my reaction? And did everyone hear what he said to Alan Cumming at the end of the show? Apparently, Alan is worried Maura might do something unpleasant to him, and he jokingly hoped she would! Was he just messing around?

If I were the one betraying him instead of the other way around, people would definitely be criticizing me simply because I’m a woman. They’d be quick to sympathize with him. I’m the one getting all the blame, even though he was the one flirting. But it’s alright, I’m used to it and I can handle it.

I’ve done a bit of reality TV before, so going into Traitors, I focused on getting to know everyone. I’m very sociable and can easily connect with people – I really enjoy building those relationships. It helped that I earned the trust of almost everyone in the castle, including Rob.

You know, watching this, it struck me how everyone just knew this person wasn’t the bad guy – something nobody else experienced. It’s really interesting. It made me think about how freeing it is to just be yourself and connect with people. I think I’ve learned that over the years. I definitely wasn’t always like that; traveling really pushed me out of my shell and helped me grow.

I started working as a model for Monster Energy in 2014, before I became known from Love Island. I was traveling the world for work and constantly meeting new people, which really prepared me for being on reality TV.

You mentioned you’re not familiar with shows like the Housewives franchise or those focused on gaming. What was it like meeting and working with people who are known for those shows? I actually enjoyed learning about what they do. I asked Yam and Natalie about Survivor. When I first arrived, I was worried about how I’d connect with everyone since I didn’t know them or what to expect. But it turned out to be helpful that I didn’t have any preconceived notions. They hadn’t seen Love Island before, so they didn’t know me from that show either, which leveled the playing field.

Filming American and British reality TV shows can be quite different. For example, shows like Traitors are very distinct from Love Island, which itself is different from I’m a Celebrity. Love Island in particular is heavily produced and shaped by the show’s creators.

They’re asking if you’re interested in anyone romantically, and if you tell them, the producers will try to make something happen by encouraging you to talk to that person with your friends. You’re not obligated to, but they have the power to influence things. This is different from the show Traitors, where you’re completely on your own – the producers don’t interfere or offer any guidance. Before doing Traitors, I expected it to be like Love Island, where producers subtly guide things towards their desired outcome. But Traitors is different; they really let things play out naturally.

Monet X Change mentioned you were figuring things out as you played – is that accurate? Yes, she’s right. I was learning the game every single day. I hadn’t even seen the show before, so I only knew the basic premise: some players are secretly ‘Traitors,’ and the others are ‘Faithful.’ Honestly, I just really wanted to be one of the Traitors! When I found out I wasn’t, I thought, ‘Oh, this isn’t going to be very fun.’ I was constantly asking myself, ‘What’s going to happen next?’ throughout the entire game.

When did you start to feel confident and settled?
I don’t think I ever really did. I was so focused on fashion that it took up all my mental space. I was constantly worried about superficial things, like hoping my good outfit wouldn’t make me a target.

I misjudged things a lot, and early on, I really thought Yam Yam was the one betraying everyone. It’s surprising they didn’t show more of that, because I kept repeating that Yam Yam was a traitor.

I questioned why he was acting that way. He pretended to be upset, even shedding fake tears, but it quickly stopped. I suspected it was all an act, because I believe he’s deceitful and doesn’t genuinely need sympathy. Honestly, I’m okay with being wrong about people, and I certainly won’t dwell on not being skilled at a game. I just don’t prioritize being good at games in general.

I initially said no to being on the show, but I changed my mind this year. The producers talked a lot about the fashion aspect, and that sounded appealing. I figured it could be fun and I might even make some friends. Honestly, I only thought I’d be on the show for a couple of days – I never imagined I’d get as far as I did.

As the game went on, it became clear I was getting more and more confused. Looking back at the footage, it’s obvious why – I was near someone who was secretly working against us. But while we were playing, I thought I was close to everyone, so it was hard to believe anyone was a Traitor. Even Eric seemed shocked when Rob betrayed him! A lot of people online are saying Rob wasn’t a very good Traitor, and that the ‘Faithful’ players just weren’t smart enough to figure it out. I disagree. There were adults in the castle who fully trusted him. If we’re going to point fingers, we need to be fair. The other ‘Faithful’ players had the opportunity to expose Rob if they’d wanted to, so I shouldn’t be the only one blamed.

Some people wonder if appearing on reality TV feels like acting. But for me, it doesn’t. I’m always just myself – people who know me outside of shows like Love Island or Traitors would tell you that. I don’t try to create a character or worry about how others see me. I’m comfortable with who I am.

Some reality TV personalities in the US seem to view things differently. When I spoke with Michael Rapaport recently, he mentioned he automatically starts performing when the cameras start rolling. I get what you mean about that. During filming of Traitors, someone actually told me they didn’t dislike me personally, but they were going to act a certain way for the sake of the show. I was really surprised to hear that. It felt like saying to Rob, “I like you, but I’m going to attack you on camera.” If I genuinely feel okay with someone off-camera, I should treat them the same way on camera too.

However, that distinction also applies to someone like Lisa Rinna, who isn’t intentionally deceitful, but definitely enjoys playing up a dramatic entrance. If I were the Traitor, I might be sneaky and mischievous – you have to act a part when you’re in that role, because you’re essentially ‘killing’ people. But the Lisa Rinna I got to know on Traitors and the Lisa I met at her home, away from the cameras, seemed like the same person.

You know, it’s funny. When I’m on the show, I honestly don’t even think about the fact that how people perceive me impacts my work and any sponsorships I might have. It sounds crazy, but when we’re filming, I completely block all that out. I try to act like we’re just a group of people living together, which I think is why I wasn’t the best at figuring out who the Traitors were – I was just genuinely enjoying myself and the experience!

Since appearing on The Traitors, my life has changed a lot, especially when it comes to fashion. I’m now working with major designers and traveling internationally almost every week. I’m pursuing opportunities I used to only dream about – things I’d put on my vision board! Plus, I was voted best dressed, and even received a free Birkin bag from Rob, which honestly feels like a bigger win than the prize money from the show. Some people have pointed out that I ‘lost’ over $200,000, but they don’t understand that winning best dressed and getting a Birkin is more valuable to me than winning the competition itself. If I had to choose, I’d take the fashion accolades and the free bag over the $220,000 prize any day.

I’m still waiting on the Birkin bag. I’ve been in touch with the guy who’s trying to get it for me, and I’ve told him exactly what I want. Luckily, Lisa Rinna is helping out – she has connections! You can’t just go into a store and buy one of these bags, you know? He says he’s working on it, but I’m hoping he actually follows through this time.

Would you go back to Aftersun?
My schedule is ever changing and I don’t know. We’ll see.

Someone asked if I’d be on ‘Traitors: All-Stars,’ and my first thought was ‘no way!’ I just don’t enjoy game shows, and honestly, I really believed in all the Traitors on the show!

Someone asked if I wanted to do another show. It turned out it was the producers, and I remember thinking, “Seriously? Another game show for me?”

I’m not ruling out reality TV forever, but I’m not planning on doing any more competition shows right now. I had a great experience, and I have a rule about not repeating shows. I was asked to return to Love Island several times, but I always felt once was enough. I don’t see the point in doing the same thing again.

Are there any reality shows you’d love to be on? I definitely wouldn’t do Survivor – I’m not built for that! Dancing with the Stars might be fun, though. It looks glamorous, and while I know it’s a lot of work, I don’t mind hard work – I’ve always been a hard worker. It would be a really enjoyable challenge. I did a little Irish dancing as a kid, but that’s about it.

Okay, so let’s talk about manifesting your dreams… or not! I’m a firm believer in keeping those future goals to myself, honestly. It’s a superstition, I know, but I think saying them out loud jinxes everything. I’ll admit, I had Dancing with the Stars on my vision board, and now that I’ve mentioned it, I’m pretty sure my chances are ruined. And you, Jason, are officially to blame!

I think they’ll want you.
Manifest it for me, will you? I might do better on that show.

You made it to the top two on this show!
Yeah, it’s still top two. I’ll take it as a win.

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2026-03-03 22:58