The world of reality television often brings unexpected friendships, and the bond between Maura Higgins and Molly-Mae Hague, forged in the heat of "Love Island," was initially touted as one of the strongest. Maura herself once affectionately described their friendship as "the best thing" to emerge from her experience on the show. However, recent whispers suggest that all might not be as rosy as it once seemed between these two reality TV queens.

Insiders are hinting at a growing tension simmering beneath the surface, a secret rivalry that could potentially fracture their once inseparable bond. This tension reportedly stems from a combination of factors, including competing beauty brand launches and lingering discomfort over past romantic entanglements.

The initial spark of friendship between Maura and Molly-Mae wasn't exactly smooth sailing. During their time on the 2019 series of "Love Island," they found themselves vying for the attention of the same man, boxer Tommy Fury. Maura, in a move that surprised viewers, openly attempted to "steal" Tommy, creating a brief period of animosity between the two women.

Despite the initial romantic rivalry, Tommy's affections remained firmly fixed on Molly-Mae. Once the initial dust settled from their competitive exchanges, Maura and Molly-Mae managed to put aside their differences and forge a close friendship. They quickly became fan favorites, celebrated for their genuine connection and unwavering support for one another.

Now, fast forward a few years, and the landscape of their relationship seems to be shifting. According to sources, the recent strain stems, in part, from competing business ventures. Both Maura and Molly-Mae have launched significant beauty campaigns, leading to speculation about whether they are intentionally going head-to-head.

Last week, the timing of their product launches raised eyebrows. As Maura unveiled her "Gloss It Yourself" L'Oreal collection, Molly-Mae's team was reportedly scrambling to release her Beauty Works x Molly-Mae's Curl Collection. The launches occurred within a mere 15 minutes of each other, fueling speculation that the close timing was no coincidence.

While both women are undoubtedly successful entrepreneurs, the close proximity of their product releases has led to whispers about a potential power struggle. Some observers have even suggested that Maura might have been trying to "get one up" on Molly-Mae, although this remains purely speculative. Regardless, the situation underscores the perceived distance that has grown between them.

Beyond the professional sphere, a more personal incident appears to have further complicated matters. Several months ago, Maura found herself at the center of a controversy after being photographed sharing a drunken kiss with Danny Jones, the married guitarist from the band McFly.

Sources close to Molly-Mae, who is a mother herself, have revealed that the incident left her feeling deeply "uncomfortable." This event, according to insiders, has become a significant catalyst for the change in their friendship dynamic.

Reportedly, Molly-Mae has been "quietly removing" herself from the friendship in the aftermath of the incident. This decision stems from her own efforts to rebuild her relationship with Tommy Fury following previous cheating rumors that had plagued their romance.

Tommy Fury himself addressed the rumors of infidelity, attributing them to his struggles with alcohol. In an open discussion, he stated that "cheating was never a thing" and emphasized that alcohol was a detrimental influence in his life, urging himself to "get a grip of it."

Molly-Mae publicly addressed the challenges in their relationship, tearfully opening up about the situation in her documentary. During that difficult time, Maura was a constant source of support, and the two women frequently displayed their close bond in public.

Following Molly-Mae's temporary split from Tommy in August 2024, Maura publicly expressed her support, posting a message that read "LOVE & ADORE YOU." They were also seen together at numerous events, including the premiere of Molly-Mae's documentary, Behind It All, and when Molly-Mae returned to social media after the split.

Despite their previous displays of unity, the dynamic appears to have shifted as Molly-Mae and Tommy have rekindled their relationship. As Molly-Mae has focused on her family, her connection with Maura seems to have gradually waned.

An insider stated, "Molly hasn't defriended Maura or anything as savage as that. But she was left with a horrible taste in her mouth after seeing her and Danny. It gave her the ick seeing one of her best friends kissing a married man – she just couldn’t get her head around it and why she did it, especially after she knew how devastating it was for Molly having to cope with Tommy’s cheating rumors that she faced just a few months before that drunken kiss."

Danny Jones, who had been married for 10 years at the time of the kiss, issued a public apology, stating that he wanted "to deeply apologize to my wife and family for putting them in this situation." The incident undoubtedly had far-reaching consequences, impacting not only his marriage but also the friendship between Maura and Molly-Mae.

The insider further added that "Molly and Maura haven't had a row over it or anything like that," suggesting that the tension is more of an unspoken distance than an outright conflict. However, the source hinted that Molly-Mae has noticed Maura's lack of remorse or apology.

According to the insider, "It feels like she's just been posting sexy pictures on Instagram and boasting about how amazing her life is since brazenly kissing a married man. I wouldn't be surprised if Molly thinks it's a bit classless, and if she were in the same position, she would have done things very differently."

Since rekindling their romance in May, Tommy and Molly-Mae have prioritized their family, spending most of their time at their new home with their daughter, Bambi. Molly-Mae has openly discussed the challenges of balancing motherhood with her various business ventures, emphasizing the importance of dedicating quality time to her family.

The insider added, "Molly has been coping with a lot over the last year. She has been focusing on Bambi, Tommy, and making their family work. She would also love another baby, and it's been important to her to carve out quality time for just her and Tommy."

Despite the growing distance, there doesn't seem to be any overt animosity between the two women. "There's no bad blood as such – at the NTAs everyone could see Maura was Molly's number one fan girl when she scooped the Authored Documentary gong – but Molly hasn't felt the need to see Maura."

After the National Television Awards (NTAs), the pair publicly praised each other's appearance, with Molly-Mae writing on Maura's Instagram, "You look SENTATIONAL," and Maura replying, "As did you. So so proud of you."

Ultimately, the demands of their busy lives may be contributing to the distance between them. "They are both so busy – they'd love to see more of each other, but that isn't the reality," the insider added.

While the intensity of their friendship may have cooled, it seems that the underlying affection remains. "Maura and Molly are still close, maybe not as close as they were, but they still love and support each other. But Molly's priority is being the best mum to Bambi and girlfriend to Tommy. She and Tommy have worked hard to patch things up, and family time is so important to her right now."

In conclusion, the insider summarized the situation by stating, "The truth is she doesn't have much in common with Maura right now – they're just worlds apart." While their friendship may have evolved, both Maura and Molly-Mae are forging their own paths, focusing on their individual priorities and navigating the complexities of life in the public eye.