WHEN Maura Higgins and Curtis Pritchard left the Love Island villa they seemed determined to stay together as their careers took off.
She was the former grid girl turned model while he was the professional dancer with an eye on a big career in TV.
Maura Higgins and Curtis Pritchard built their careers together
Maura quickly landed a guest spot presenting on This Morning while Curtis worked on BBC One’s The Greatest Dancer as the receptionist.
Maura’s six-figure deal with lingerie brand Ann Summers followed and she was soon snapped up to appear on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Meanwhile, Curtis was picked to model Debenhams’ autumn and winter campaign and was hired as a dance coach and choreographer on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alongside his brother AJ.
Then, they hit the big time as a couple and were hired to host the backstage interviews at the National Television Awards during the star-studded ceremony.
But did staying together really increase their earning power?
Curtis supporting Maura when she appeared on Dancing On Ice
“After leaving the villa, if you are in a strong couple, you are going to be presented with a lot more opportunities after leaving the series,” Jack Cooper, PR Expert at EdHopkinsPR told The Sun Online.
“Not necessary in terms of TV appearances but for Instagram promotions, magazine exclusives and club appearances, this is definitely the way to go!
“The public and fans are also a lot more on side if you stay in the couple as it shows that you were in there to find love and not just for the fame or the blue tick and million plus followers on Instagram. ”
The couple hosted celeb interviews together backstage at the National Television Awards earlier this year
The couple booked jobs together and were paid to attend parties as one of the surviving Love Island couples.
They were told if they stayed together they could make millions.
PR expert Jack continued: “Their management would of course advise the couple to keep the couple up as long as they can, especially as a PR as they would want them to maximise their opportunities for exposure and keep up their image in the press and public eye as soon as possible.”
They came as a package and were invited to events and parties together
Meanwhile, speculation about the couple’s doomed relationship fed news cycles just weeks after they left the villa.
Whether Maura was talking to Lorraine or Curtis was on This Morning, one would always get asked about the other.
“The media are always following couples after they come out of the villa as they want to keep up to date to see how long they stay together when they leave,” he said.
“The paparazzi will be hot on their whereabouts, and if they are being seen out and about and how much they are spending time together.”
And it wasn’t just media speculation that fed the fire, fans got a kick out of seeing their favourite Love Island couples surviving in the real world.
Curtis and Maura were always answering questions about their relationship on TV chat shows
Last August Maura and Curtis posted about having a date night in Essex after being plagued by speculation they secretly broke up.
The post racked up over 170,000 likes with fans rushing to comment their opinions on the couples’ future.
“As a couple, on social media they are worth a lot more money as they can promote the whole ‘his and hers’ range and all the clothing range that a brand may have in stock,” Jac added.
“This opens up a lot more opportunities for a company to promote companies having matching outfits or the same style outfits making the perfect ‘cute’ ‘stylish’ couple.”
Maura now has 2.8 million followers on Instagram
But now the romance – or showmance – is over, the couple are stars in their own right.
Maura’s 2.8million Instagram followers are desperate to learn her every move while she promotes her new swimwear range with Ann Summers.
And Curtis’ 1.6million followers are watching the dancer go on tour with his brother AJ for the first time.
But according to PR expert Adam Nutburn at 3 Dots Talent, Curtis will “struggle on his own” without Maura.
Curtis is going on tour with his brother AJ, pictured with their mum and dad
“It’s harder for the single boys to get work than it is for the single girls,” he tells us.
“Mosts brands are keen to associate themselves with the girls as they tend to have larger social media followings than the boys – and the girls are usually more brand-safe.
“The boys tend to get offered club appearances and car air fresheners, whereas the girls tend to get higher-end offers.”
After just seven months together it looks like this pair’s future is looking very bright indeed…
