Maura Higgins reveals she has prepared for I’m A Celeb in the ‘worst way possible’ as she indulges on pasta and red wine during lavish Vegas trip

Maura Higgins revealed she has done absolutely nothing to prepare for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! after partying in Las Vegas days before jungle stint.

The Love Island icon, who was revealed as a late arrival on the ITV show on Wednesday night, has opened up ahead of heading into camp.

Maura admitted she has made the most of reality as she loaded up on ‘all my favourite foods and red wine’ before being forced to live off rice and beans.

She said: ‘No [I haven’t prepared], I have probably been doing the worst thing by loading up on all my favourite foods, drinking as much red wine as I can and eating as much pasta. 

‘I probably should have weaned myself off things, but that’s not how my brain works!’ 

Maura Higgins revealed she has done absolutely nothing to prepare for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! after partying in Las Vegas days before jungle stint

Maura managed to fit one very last minute luxury trip in earlier this week as she jetted off on a paid-for trip to Vegas with the beauty brand, Space NK, which she knew would be cutting it fine when it came to her arrival Down Under

In recent days the celebrities have been soaked by heavy rainfall in the jungle and Maura said she believes the hit show will be ‘the hardest thing she has ever done’ as she has ‘never slept outside’ camping before.

However the Irish model said she is ‘ready to step outside my comfort zone’ as the show is a ‘real pinch me moment’. 

She added: ‘I hope I do make myself proud and I am both excited but also very nervous, because I am scared of absolutely everything. 

 ‘It is quite scary going in later. They have all met and got to know each other. It’s never easy being the newbie, but I am not a shy person, so I feel like I will be fine. It will be nice to bring some energy to the camp.’ 

Maura managed to fit one very last minute luxury trip in earlier this week as she jetted off on a paid-for trip to Vegas with the beauty brand, Space NK, which she knew would be cutting it fine when it came to her arrival Down Under.

Staying at the 500 dollars a night Palazzo at the Venetian Hotel, Maura was joined by the likes of Stacey Solomon and was flown out on Thursday first class to Las Vegas.

Treated to morning facials and extravagant dinners of calamari at Nobu and lobster at the Bellagio, it’s a far cry from what’s in store for her in Australia, a diet that will consist of rice and beans.

After watching Adele at her Vegas residency, when the Easy On Me singer even interrupted her song to compliment Maura on her scarlet red suit, the Love Island star went on to party the night away with friends.

Maura has now admitted she has made the most of reality as she loaded up on ‘all my favourite foods and red wine’ before being forced to live off rice and beans

She said: ‘No [I haven’t prepared], I have probably been doing the worst thing by loading up on all my favourite foods, drinking as much red wine as I can and eating as much pasta’

In recent days the celebrities have been soaked by heavy rainfall in the jungle and Maura said she believes the hit show will be ‘the hardest thing she has ever done’ as she has ‘never slept outside’ camping before

Playing into how last minute the trip was before the Jungle, Maura teased fans that she was headed to Australia by posting a picture of an aeroplane with the caption, ‘Where to?!’

When she later popped up in Las Vegas, fans who were expecting her to arrive at Brisbane Airport, were sent into a tailspin claiming she had already quit the Jungle.

But ITV knows she is too good a signing to let go.

When she entered the Love Island villa in 2019 with her non-nonsense confrontational demeanour, ITV bosses could not believe their luck and the Irish star quickly became a fan favourite.

And the network is no doubt hoping for the same approach from Maura when it comes to the I’m A Celebrity jungle which will make her the perfect late arrival to shake the camp up.  

Maura is set to be dumped in the Jungle Junkyard when she makes her show debut this week.

MailOnline can reveal the Irish model and fellow latecomer Reverend Richard Coles, 62, presumed they would join the rest of the cast in the main camp, but a shock twist sees the unlikely duo initially separated and placed in squalor.

She will join the likes of Coleen Rooney, Oti Mabuse, and Danny Jones in the jungle as a late entry 

The Jungle Junkyard contains overgrown greenery, rusty corrugated metal and zero luxury, a far cry from the sun-drenched Love Island villa where Maura made her name.

And lack of amenities isn’t the only frightening factor of the Jungle Junkyard, with I’m A Celeb bosses teasing that the show’s latecomers will be put through their paces and the basic camp hides one big secret.

A show source said: ‘Maura and Richard Coles are in for the shock of their lives when they enter the Australian jungle as they will be sleeping in a horrible junkyard.

‘Maura has gone from the bright lights of Sin City to being dumped into the basic camp, with no luxuries whatsoever.

‘But in true I’m A Celeb fashion all is not what it seems, and viewers will soon discover the jungle has many secrets.

‘Bosses have a few surprises up their sleeve for the upcoming series… and the Jungle Junkyard might be hiding the biggest one of all.’

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! continues Tuesday at 9pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX 

I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP

OTI MABUSE  

Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt

AGE: 34

OCCUPATION: Professional dancer

FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020. 

DANNY JONES 

Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: McFly singer

FAMOUS FOR:  Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly. 

He is also a coach on The Voice UK. 

BARRY MCGUIGAN 

Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle

AGE: 63

OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer

FAMOUS FOR:  Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986. 

GK BARRY

GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women

AGE: 25

OCCUPATION: TikTok star 

FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel. 

DEAN MCCULLOUGH 

ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp

AGE: 32

OCCUPATION:  Radio 1 DJ 

FAMOUS FOR:  Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views. 

Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.  

JANE MOORE  

Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Journalist

 FAMOUS FOR:  Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002. 

She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.

Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow. 

MELVIN ODOOM  

Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021

AGE: 44

OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter

FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.

He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.

COLEEN ROONEY 

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: WAG

FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.

ALAN HALSALL  

Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street

AGE: 42

OCCUPATION: Actor 

FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.

Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap. 

TULISA  

Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year

AGE: 36

OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge 

FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.

In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss. 

She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.