I’m A Celebrity contestant Maura Higgins looked miles away from her standard glamorous self in throwback photos shared online.
The former Love Island star is among the celebrities braving the jungle for this year’s edition of the popular ITV reality show.
Maura joins the likes of Wagatha Christie icon Coleen Rooney, Strictly star Oti Mabuse, and Radio One presenter Dean McCullough in this year’s lineup.
While she’s ditched her usual glitz and glamour in her campmate clothes, she was even more unrecognisable in some childhood photos shared on Snapchat.
The Dancing On Ice contestant sported a thick black fringe, matching eyeliner, and large hoop earrings in what appears to be a school photo posted with the simple caption ‘Oh.’
Another photo on her Instagram showed the fresh-faced star beaming away while posing in a black crop top and white trousers after she shocked fans with her age while celebrating her birthday on the show.
The reality TV star, who recently batted off rumours of a romance between her and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Pete Wicks, shared that she had turned 34.
Although that’s not old by any stretch of the imagination, the discovery still came as a surprise to many viewers who had expected her to be in her early to mid-20s.
The TV personality celebrated the special day by taking a freezing cold shower. She later said: ‘Birthday in the jungle! This is definitely going to be one I will never, ever forget.’
Maura has already become a firm favourite among fans as she struck up an unlikely friendship with fellow contestant Reverend Richard Coles.
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She has also gotten pally with boxing legend Barry McGuigan after previously dating his son Shane.
During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Shane, who dated Maura six years ago, said Maura and Barry’s Irish roots may mean they’ll hit it off in the jungle.
‘Maura, as well, she’s an Irish girl so her coming into the camp…she’s from a tiny town in Longford in Ireland so they’re both from the sticks we’d call it in Ireland, the middle of nowhere,’ he said.
‘They both reached big fame they wouldn’t have been able to comprehend as kids growing up in their small towns. So could be similarities there as well.’
Maura declared herself a single woman before embarking on the ITV show after being linked to Towie star Pete, 36.
‘I am single at the moment, but honestly, no one is going to fancy me in the jungle. Trust me,’ she said.
Maura’s statement may have surprised some people as she was pictured looking cosy with Pete on an evening out just days before her flight to Australia.
In a few of the snaps, they cuddled, while Pete was kissing Maura’s cheek and ear.
A source has claimed that Pete now has intensifying chemistry with his Strictly partner Jowita Przystał.
The insider said: ‘They’ve started seeing each other away from the show.
‘They’ve tried to keep it low-key but they often travel together rather than getting separate cars to different locations,’ the source told The Sun.
‘And they’re so tactile backstage — it has become pretty obvious something is going on.
‘Everyone is talking about the fact they seem closer than ever.’
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