Trigger warning - this article contains discussions of sexual assault.
Maura Higgins has claimed she was sexually assaulted by a cab driver after a night out. Watch the video below:
The 31-year-old Love Island star was asked to share her 'worst experience with a man' during an Instagram Q&A.
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Maura alleged the attack happened after she fell asleep in the back of a taxi after her friends had been dropped off.
She shared her memories of the incident with her 3.5 million Instagram followers on Monday (8 August).
“The worst one I've never ever, ever opened up to any of you about, and I don't even think I'm ready yet,” she began.
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“It was like probably one of the scariest things that's ever happened to me.”
Maura went into some of the frightening details about waking up in the taxi. “And I woke up and his hand was right up my skirt,” she said.
“Honestly, I sobered up so quickly. I memorised his taxi number so quick and still remembered it the next day.”
Maura did not reveal any more details about the incident or whether she reported the cab driver to the police.
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Maura took part in the 2019 edition of the ITV2 dating show Love Island where she finished in fourth place with her now ex-boyfriend, dancer Curtis Pritchard, 26.
Despite hitting it off on the show, the couple eventually went their separate ways around six months after the final, in early 2020.
She then went on to date another Islander from her series, 31-year-old Chris Taylor, in November 2020.
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The coupled called time on their romance just a few months later.
In a statement released in May last year, Maura said: "It breaks my heart to even type this. But I wanted to let everyone know that myself and Chris have made the joint decision to end our relationship.
She concluded: "I wish Chris nothing but the best and I will always be one of his biggest supporters."
The model and former grid girl from County Longford had a relationship with Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice, 21, last summer but they split in the autumn.
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If you would like sexual violence support or information, you can find specialist services in your area here. You can also contact The Survivors Trust helpline team for more information about the different types of support available.
Gregory Robinson