Maura Higgins has admitted she “never forgave” her father after a “horrendous” phone call from him left her unable to breathe.
The model, 33, detailed their estranged relationship in a new interview on Tuesday, revealing that she hasn’t spoken to him “for a few years.”
Maura grew up in Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland, her parents Sharon and Seamus divorced when she was younger, but her relationship with her father soured further when she went on Love Island in 2019.
Talking to Paul C Brunson about his We need to talk podcastshe explained: ‘It’s a little strange. It’s been a few years since we spoke.
‘My dad didn’t speak very kindly to me. I’m not saying it was just a small argument. “It was horrible that I physically couldn’t breathe after the phone call.”
Maura Higgins has admitted she “never forgave” her father after a “horrendous” phone call from him left her unable to breathe.
The model, 33, detailed their estranged relationship in a new interview on Tuesday, revealing how she hasn’t spoken to him “for a few years” (pictured with her father, mother and sisters).
Maura continued: “I thought to myself, ‘I wouldn’t let a partner talk to me like that. I wouldn’t let a friend talk to me like that. I’m not going to let my dad talk to me like that.”
“But I also think if I dig deeper, I think I’ve never forgiven my dad for not being there for me when my best friend passed away. And he wasn’t there for me.
His close friend Andrew Rowan tragically died aged 26 when his motorcycle was involved in a three-car accident in Co Athlone, Ireland, in 2017.
She continued: ‘I know my dad had problems in the divorce too, but he just did things that just weren’t…’
Paul added: “It’s not what a father should do.”
Elsewhere in the chat, Maura broke down in tears and admitted she “didn’t want to be here” after her sudden fame on Love Island.
The model, who starred in the ITV dating series in 2019, said she suffered “dark thoughts” after being “dropped off” in London from her native Ireland.
In the emotional interview, Maura recalled the “very scary” period of her life when she was exposed to the public with no one she could trust.
Maura grew up in Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland, her parents Sharon and Seamus divorced, but her relationship with her father soured further when she went on Love Island (pictured on Love Island in 2019).
Speaking to Paul C Brunson on his We Need To Talk podcast, he explained: “It’s a bit strange.” It’s been a few years since we spoke. My dad spoke to me not very kindly’
Speaking to Paul, he began: ‘Life after Love Island was a very difficult time in my life.
“I just got dropped off in the UK. It was like someone picked me up, dropped me off in the UK and I was in the public eye. I had nowhere to live. I had no friends, no family, no one I could trust.
‘I’ve done it all myself. I have been independent all my life. But that was a lot. That was terrifying. Very, very afraid.
And I remember many times that I faked a smile. Work was very busy. He barely slept.
‘The paparazzi followed me everywhere. I didn’t have clothes. I had a suitcase with nothing but Love Island bikinis that were probably crunchy.
“I had nothing, absolutely nothing. I lived in a hotel in London because that was where all my work was and I was very overloaded. There was no rest.
“It was going from one thing to another, like, on the radio, to this photo shoot for you to sign with brands.”
She admitted: ‘I had a nervous breakdown. I had dark thoughts, very dark thoughts. And it got to a point where I don’t think I even told my mother. I tell my mom everything. I didn’t tell him how bad it was.
‘I didn’t want to be here anymore. I thought that was going to be the best.”
He added: ‘I’m not saying it was just a little argument. It was horrendous that I physically couldn’t breathe after the phone call… I’m not going to let my dad talk to me like that.’
Maura added: “A lot was expected of me. And because I was there alone, I thought, ‘I don’t have anyone to help me.’
‘Moving countries while exposed to public opinion is terrifying. I felt so mentally exhausted just putting on the smile. There were so many things I did that I don’t even remember. “I was miserable,” Maura revealed.
The TV personality, who finished fourth on the UK show’s fifth season in 2019, is now Love Island USA’s social media ambassador.
Since then, she has appeared on Dancing on Ice and presented segments on This Morning.