The former “Love Island” star was recently announced as a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars’” upcoming 35th season.

Maura Higgins gives definitive answer to whether she’d do The Bachelorette

The former "Love Island" star was recently announced as a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars'" upcoming 35th season.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Popsugar.

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April 24, 2026 12:57 p.m. ET

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Maura Higgins at the TIME100 Gala on Thursday. Credit:

John Nacion/Getty

- Maura Higgins finally addresses fans pitching her to lead the next season of *The Bachelorette*.

- The theory took off on Instagram after Deuxmoi posted the blind item with the caption, "She would be SO good as the Bachelorette!"

- Higgins initially commented on the post using the eyes emoji, but has since responded less cryptically.

Maura Higgins will not be looking for love on ABC anytime soon.

The reality star of *Love Island* fame finally addressed fans' pitching her to lead the next season of *The Bachelorette*, and it isn't good news for anyone still holding out hope.

"Absolutely not," Higgins responded when asked by *Entertainment Tonight* Wednesday if she would try her hand at giving out roses on the long-running dating competition series. "Come on guys, I'm 35!"

Higgins went on to add that she's not even looking for a relationship at the moment. "Do you know what? I'm so happy. I don't want a man," she told the outlet. "I don't want anyone in my space. I like to come home to my beautiful, clean house. I don't have to pick up their s---. I don't actually have time anyway."**** "I need to get my trophy so I can pop it in my free Birkin," the reality star joked, referring to her upcoming turn on *Dancing With the Stars* season 35.

Higgins on 'Love Island UK' series 5.

Earlier it seemed as if Higgins' heart was open to the idea. The theory took off on Instagram after Deuxmoi posted the blind item with the caption, "She would be SO good as The Bachelorette!"

"ABC exec friend said they are looking into getting Maura Higgins to be the new Bachelorette and do a live shooting of it," the post read. Higgins commented with the eyes emoji, which typically signifies intrigue — or suspicion. Some fans were excited by the proposition, while other commenters were hoping the show would go back to a non-famous lead.

The Irish reality star became a popular pick on social media after the network pulled its 22nd season in March following then-lead Taylor Frankie Paul's alleged domestic violence incident. (Utah authorities recently announced that the *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* star won't be facing new charges in the wake of its investigation into the allegations.)

Higgins recently gained attention as the Faithful runner-up of *The Traitors* season 4, which was won by Traitor and fellow Love Islander Rob Rausch. (He ended up buying Higgins a Hermès Birkin bag to apologize for betraying her.)

‘Dancing With the Stars’ season 35 reveals first 2 contestants

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But Higgins will clearly be more than occupied with making her way around the ballroom for DWTS' upcoming season. She and Ciara Miller of *Summer House* were the first two contestants announced during Hulu's Get Real House event.

The remaining contestants will be unveiled at a later date.

Rob Rausch and Higgins on 'The Traitors'.

Miller was also briefly the subject of buzz as a prospective *Bachelorette* lead after she was caught in the maelstrom of headlines surrounding *Summer House *costars Amanda Batula and West Wilson's rumored, and ultimately confirmed, romance.

The news sent the show's fandom — and its cast — into a frenzy because of Wilson's very public breakup with Miller, who has been close friends with Batula for years. Although their brief dalliance following Wilson's addition to the cast in 2023 ended on less-than-friendly terms, the pair have maintained a will-they-or-won't-they vibe ever since.

The *Summer House* star was quick to shoot down the buzz. "F--- no," Miller recently told *Glamour*. "I'm way too private."

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Instead, Miller will follow in the footsteps of fellow Bravoleb Ariana Madix, who joined *Dancing With the Stars* in 2023 after it was revealed her boyfriend of 10 years, Tom Sandoval, had been carrying on an affair with her friend Raquel Leviss, a.k.a. “Scandoval.” Madix went on to take third place in season 32.

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