Maura Higgins made a stylish appearance at the US Open in New York on Monday, stepping out with a £6,000 Chanel tennis racket bag in her first public sighting since securing the biggest television role of her career.
The former Love Island favourite, 35, has been announced as the new host of the eagerly awaited Blind Date revival, taking on the role made famous by the late Cilla Black when the classic dating show returns to screens next year.
The Irish presenter is also building momentum across the Atlantic, with a stint as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars lined up for this autumn before production begins on the Blind Date reboot at a closely guarded location later in the year.
With her US profile on the rise, Maura’s trip to the tennis championship felt perfectly timed as she turned heads in a barely-there light grey Chanel co-ord while posing at the star-studded sporting event.
Leaning fully into the courtside fashion theme, she carried Chanel’s white quilted Monte-Carlo cross-body tennis bag, an eye-catching designer accessory with a luxury price tag.
The brunette TV personality completed the polished look with black strappy heels, a crisp white headband and coordinating white-framed sunglasses.
Maura Higgins stepped out at the US Open in New York on Monday carrying a £6,000 Chanel tennis racket bag, marking her first sighting since landing the biggest TV role of her career
The former Love Island star, 35, has been named host of the much-anticipated Blind Date reboot, following in the footsteps of the late Cilla Black
Maura flew into New York from LA – where she has been training for Dancing With The Stars – to attend the US Open with IHG Hotels & Resorts which is the official hotel and hotel loyalty programme of the US Open.
Maura’s impressive career has reached new heights this year after being signed for the Blind Date role.
After attempting to find romance on ITV dating show Love Island in 2019, Maura went on to bag a hosting job on Love Island US: Aftersun and also starred on The Traitors US.
Angela Jain, head of content at Disney+ EMEA, said in a statement this week about her Blind Date job: ‘Maura is the perfect match for our version of Blind Date.
‘Her distinctive straight-talking humour, coupled with her experience as a reality dating show contestant, means we know she has the gravitas plus the wit to bring Blind Date to new audiences.
‘We’re very much looking forward to Maura helping our daters navigate their own journeys to find love as she steps into the famed Blind Date host role.’
Much of the format for the show will stay the same, only this time with ‘innovative format twists and a spicy dose of drama’ for contemporary audiences.
As with the original format, contestants must choose between three potential suitors, hidden from view behind the legendary Blind Date wall, the only thing standing between them and their potential true love just metres away.
Maura has seen her profile soar both in the UK and across the pond.
The Irish TV personality is set to continue her US takeover by appearing as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars this autumn, before filming the Blind Date reboot
So a visit to the US Open seemed a fitting outing for Maura this week who wowed in a skimpy light grey co-ord, also by Chanel, as she posed at the event
The brunette beauty boosted her height with black strappy heels, added a white headband to her look and wore matching white-rimmed sunglasses
She toted the pricey Chanel white quilted Monte-Carlo crossbody tennis bag as she stuck perfectly to the fashion theme
IHG Hotels & Resorts is the official hotel and hotel loyalty program of the US Open and Maura was busy posing in their suite
After hosting the Love Island Games and Love Island US: Aftersun last year, she gained an even bigger traction when she made it to the final of The Traitors US.
So it is little wonder bosses have been eyeing her up for the big TV role, with a source stating back in June: ‘Discussions are at an advanced stage, with the show’s producers convinced Maura’s the perfect choice for the job.
They added to The Sun: ‘Not only did she shoot to fame on a TV dating contest, she is now an internationally famous face which is what a global service like Disney need for one of their shows.
‘Maura also has an unquestionable glamour combined with cheeky charm which has echoes of Blind Date’s most famous host.’
Cilla Black hosted Blind Date from its debut in 1985 until the show was axed in 2003 after failing to hit the heights of its 18 million viewers-a-show heyday.
The show was later revived in 2017 on Channel 5 with the late Paul O’Grady as the host, but the reboot only lasted two years.
The premise of Blind Date saw singletons get to know a series of potential dates from behind a screen.
Depending on their answers, they would get to choose who they’d most like to go on a date with – and then see each other for the first time on the show.
Last June it was revealed the show would be making a sensational comeback with Claudia Winkleman, Holly Willoughby and Davina McCall all rumoured as hosts.
However, the rebooted show has now found its new host in Maura.
Maura of course has experience of dating shows, having shot to fame on Love Island back in 2019 where she reached the final alongside her ex Curtis Pritchard.
In addition to her successful modelling career, Maura has gone on to make several TV appearances as both a presenter and contestant, including Dancing On Ice, Glow Up Ireland, Supermarket Sweep, National Television Awards and Loose Women.
