Love Islander and influencer Maura Higgins was spotted stocking up on vapes before flying to Australia for ITV show ‘I’m a Celebrity.. Get me out of here!’
The 33-year-old Irish beauty is expected to be a late entrant to the jungle camp along with Reverend Richard Coles.
Last week Maura was seen clutching three boxes of vapes in one hand as she left a meeting with her management company in London.
The bare-faced TV star was dressed casually in white flared trousers, oversized grey coat and a grey baseball cap.
Earlier in the week Maura enjoyed a date night at the London Palladium with her love interest, former Towie star Pete Wicks, but declared herself single before heading off for her I’m a Celeb stint.
Maura will be able to take her vapes on the flight to Australia, but they must be fully turned off and packed in carry-on luggage, not checked baggage as they pose a fire risk. No airlines allow vaping on a flight.
It was previously reported that I'm A Celeb bosses had set their sights on Maura after boxer Tommy Fury withdrew at the last minute. She has yet to appear on the show but is widely expected to be a late entrant after being named in the line up.
Australia’s strict laws on vapes
In Australia, where Maura will be spending the next few weeks, it is now illegal to buy vapes outside of a pharmacy.
According to the Therapeutic Goods Association, travellers are allowed to bring in up to two vapes, 20 vape accessories, and 200ml of e-liquid “if the vapes are for your own treatment or the treatment of someone you're caring for”. These restrictions were brought in at the beginning of last month as part of a major overhaul of vaping laws in Australia.
It has previously been reported that celebrities on I’m a Celeb are allowed to smoke or vape on set - but only off of camera. The crew keep a stash of cigarettes for the cast to help themselves to, according to British newspaper the Daily Express. Cigarettes and vapes don’t count as part of a celebrity’s luxury items.
It used to be the case that the cast were only allowed to smoke right by the campfire, and had to put cigarettes out in the fire. However, no celebrities have been seen smoking or vaping on set in recent years.
Maura’s purchase comes as the UK is set to ban disposable vapes from June 2025. The government is also considering even stricter laws on vapes and other nicotine alternatives as part of its new Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
The Bill was introduced to Parliament on November 5, paving the way for some of the strictest anti-smoking and vaping laws in the world.
Celebrities spotted vaping
Other celebrities to have been spotted vaping include Barry Manilow, Adele, Sean Bean, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Lana Del Rey, Zayn Malik and Isla Fisher.
Earlier this year, Simon Cowell credited vaping with helping him to quit his 80-a-day smoking habit.
The music mogul, 63, said he switched to vapes after suffering from a bout of laryngitis last year that caused him to lose his voice.
