Season 5's Love Island UK cast was dealt a lot of harsh realities and complicated couplings, but Maura Higgins never held back. Maura is a popular contestant on Love Island and a model and ring girl from Ireland. She arrived in the villa on Day 10 with no qualms and no mercy when it came to her honesty and tendency to voice what she believed in.
Maura didn't always have the easiest time in the villa, whether it was getting denied in her first recoupling or only getting 8 or 9 days in between recouplings. She rolled with the punches, made out with 4th place, and will forever be known as one of season 5's funniest cast members, whether she meant to be or not. And the phrases she used during her time in the villa, many of which can't be included here, will go down in Love Island history.
"Are You Joking?!"
These words can typically be interpreted in two ways: either as a literal question or a sarcastic but rhetorical response. It's not necessarily like the other British slang in the show, but it is a phrase that Maura made her own and used more often than not when she was surprised.
Even early on in Maura's time in the villa, and due to the tension from the triangle between herself, Tommy, and Molly Mae, she used the phrase in the confessional room when she reflected on why she would need anyone's permission to crack on with Tommy. She uses it in a more playful manner when she later asks Tommy if he thinks she and him would be a better match than he and Molly. She also never hesitated to knock down anyone's ego when she got the chance. Tom called her "cringe" behind her back and she easily deflated his ego with a simple, "are you joking?"
"Things Look Good, I'm Happy That There's A New Man In Here."
When Maura was just beginning her journey in the villa, she had her eyes set on Tommy. So, when he chose Molly Mae in the recoupling, Anna and Maura thought they would be sent home. Instead, they were sent on two dates with new boys Tom and Jordan. Maura got along well with Tom, even after a few bumps in the conversation.
Back at the villa, in the confessional room, Maura opened up about how relieved she was, "Things look good. I'm happy that there's a new man in here." It was clear in her tone that she was frustrated with the hand she had been dealt on first arriving in the villa, so having dates when she thought she might have to go home seemed to be refreshing.
"I'm Not Gonna Let Anyone Talk About Me Like I'm A Piece Of Garbage!"
Maura came into the villa making sure that she was upfront and honest, no matter what. She constantly reminded herself and others that it's always better that way and it helps keep the situations more mature. When Tom came in after the recoupling wherein he picked Molly Mae instead of Maura, Maura thought things were looking up. But when Tom is overheard disrespecting Maura's openness about her sex life, she confronts him.
Tom's comments were inappropriate and inconsiderate, so when Maura went to vent to the girls about how she felt disrespected, she said this great quote. She was standing up for herself and likely showing the other girls that if they ever encountered a situation where they felt like this, they could confront the issue too.
"Why Ya Asking Her That?!"
Amy was devastated after Casa Amor when Curtis was honest with her about the fact that he originally planned to recouple with someone. Amy took to a chat with the girls and when Lucie bluntly asked, "But does he love you?" Maura jumped out with this quote because she knew how hard the question was going to hit Amy.
She continued to tell Amy she knew what she said was harsh but that, "he wouldn't have done that if he did [love her]. And that's harsh and I'm sorry." Maura is painfully blunt sometimes, but she also reassured that this was about Amy's feelings, not anyone else's. Maura then asked, "Do you really think you deserve this?" making sure Amy knew that she didn't have to endure the pain out of courtesy for anyone else.
"It Was A Really Good Kiss. But I'm Not Going To Tell Him That!"
The infamous and daunting Casa Amor was the scene of many dramatic moments that always lead to some tension and questions. Luckily, Maura avoided any major drama that came with the territory, but she did have a hard decision to make between Dennon and Marvin.
When Dennon pulled her in for a chat and wanted to kiss her, she later opened up about it saying that it was "a really good kiss. But I'm not going to tell him that!" This was a good call considering she left Casa Amor with Marvin instead of Dennon. The kiss did not make her decision any easier, but from what fans could tell, it was an important factor nonetheless that helped her realize she would rather try to move forward with the more reserved Marvin.
"I Can't Believe She Wasted All The Wine."
The islanders were put through the wringer at the party dealing with Belle and Anton's fight. As things were starting to look up later in the main villa, Molly Mae tripped down the stairs, nearly breaking an ankle and spilling her wine.
Everyone else went to check on her well-being and Molly herself began to laugh it off, reassuring them that she wasn't injured. As the commotion dies down, Maura is heard saying, "I can't believe she wasted the wine." It was a quick bit of humorous relief that fans could always depend on Maura to provide.
"It's 2019, Why Is It Such A Big Deal When A Girl Talks About Sex?"
Early on in the season, Tom had just taken Maura on a date and they started to "crack on." In the confessional room, Maura makes the comment, "New approach is, try not to talk about sex too much. Because maybe guys don't like that." And while she laughs off the matter at the time, one of her more memorable quotes comes from her reaction to Tom being disrespectful ab0ut their potential night in the hideaway.
Rather than suppressing herself from talking about sex, she not only tells Tom off but later vents to the girls about it and simply shuts down the misogynistic comment with this quote.
"I'd Rather Stick Pins In My Eyeballs, To Be Honest."
Tom was busy telling others in the villa about his hesitations and things he didn't like about Maura and she confronted him twice about it. They initially laid it to rest when he reassured her that he liked where things were going, but he later got called out for calling her "cringe" and an attention-seeker. She confronted him, again, to try and hear the truth from him, and felt like she couldn't be honest with him, herself, or the others because things were happening behind her back.
Later, Tom asked to pull Maura for a chat after their fight, and as she stalks past him and Curtis through the bedroom she said this great line. While this wasn't meant to be humorous, Maura's one-liners always got the point across, and for fans (who aren't on the receiving end of her anger), her biting remarks are hilarious.