Maura Higgins alleged on Monday that her luggage was stolen after it arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, an incident she said left her "riddled with anxiety" as she travelled to Fiji to present the Aftersun companion show for the second series of Love Island Games.
The 34-year-old former Love Island contestant and television presenter said an Apple AirTag attached to her bag alerted her that the case was not with her while she was on the flight to LAX. Higgins posted a screenshot of the AirTag alert and video updates to social media saying airport staff told her the bag had been on the carousel but was not there when she arrived.
Higgins, who rose to prominence on the U.K. edition of Love Island in 2019 and has served as the U.S. show's social media ambassador, had earlier shared images from the plane showing luxury items including a Hermès Birkin and a Louis Vuitton vanity case. She also posted a selfie with a face mask and wrote: "Here's me for the next 25 hours. Hair mask, bio collaged hair mask, oil all over body."
After posting the AirTag screenshot, Higgins filmed herself talking through the situation. "So everyone in my DMs is like don't worry the AirTag normally does that it's probably on the flight. No, it's not... Actually they're telling me that it was on the conveyor belt so it looks like it's been stolen. Stolen! Stolen! I have work when I land. I have work," she said. Over a subsequent video she added: "Why would they give me more anxiety by telling me someone has took it!! Everyone has left the conveyor belt and I'm just here like... I'M JUST A GIRL that needs her hair extensions and fake tan."
Representatives for Higgins did not immediately respond to a request for further comment. Los Angeles International Airport and airline officials did not immediately provide details on the reported incident.
Higgins was announced last month as the host of Aftersun for Love Island Games. An insider quoted by The Sun said the first series of Love Island Games did not include an Aftersun companion because it was pre-recorded and aired later, but that the second series will air in real time and prompted the commissioning of an Aftersun series. That report said Higgins, who also hosts Aftersun for Love Island USA and recently appeared on the U.S. edition of Traitors, was "over the moon" to be asked to front the companion show and is viewed by producers as a key member of the Love Island family.
Love Island Games, which features reality stars from a variety of shows living together and competing in challenges, aired its first season with broadcaster changes to the main-series hosting line-up. Maya Jama hosted the first Games series and later stepped down; the series' promotion has indicated Ariana Madix as a replacement.
Higgins' social-media posts about the missing luggage underscore growing public awareness of tracking devices such as AirTags being used to monitor checked and carry-on items. Airlines and airports advise passengers to report missing baggage immediately to airline baggage services to begin tracing and recovery procedures.
Higgins is due to begin presenting Aftersun in the South Pacific within days of her arrival; she has previously worked as a presenter on the U.S. Love Island Aftersun and has spoken publicly about expanding her career in the United States. The production schedule for Love Island Games' Aftersun companion show was not disclosed.
The incident follows a broader trend of high-profile travelers publicising lost or stolen luggage on social media, prompting debate about airport security, baggage handling and the use of personal tracking technology. Authorities recommend filing a formal lost-baggage report with the relevant carrier and following up with airport lost-and-found services for recovery and any potential claims.