Maura Higgins was a Faithful on The Traitors US Season 4 who was betrayed in the finale by her closest ally Rob Rausch, a secret Traitor who took the entire $220,800 prize for himself . Her stunned reaction became a defining reality TV moment, but the story did not end there.
The February 2026 finale of The Traitors US delivered one of the most brutal betrayals in the franchise’s history. Maura Higgins, a former Love Island UK star, had spent the entire season trusting Rob Rausch, her fellow Love Island alum and closest ally in the Scottish castle . The two made a pinky promise to reach the end together, and Higgins believed they would share the prize .
Rausch, however, had been a Traitor from day one . He carefully maintained a Faithful persona, even turning against his fellow Traitors Candiace Dillard Bassett and Lisa Rinna to avoid suspicion . In the final “Fire of Truth” ceremony, only Rausch, Higgins, and Eric Nam remained. Rausch and Higgins voted to banish Nam, leaving the two Love Island veterans as the final pair .
When Rausch revealed his true identity, Higgins was visibly devastated. “Oh my god I’m so stupid,” she said, her mouth hanging open in shock . She then delivered her now-iconic response: “You absolute a–hole. You pinky promised. You’ve embarrassed me” . In a moment that captured the absurdity of the situation, she added, “You’re never going to have a girlfriend after this. You’re such a good liar” .
Higgins later reflected on the betrayal with remarkable grace during a Deadline Contenders Television panel. “I wish I could sit here and say I knew he was a traitor, but I had no clue,” she admitted . “He played the best game in that castle. I genuinely did believe he was a faithful, but you know what? It’s a game, and I was fine with it” .
The fallout from the finale quickly shifted from shock to an unlikely resolution. During the season’s reunion, Higgins jokingly laid out her terms for forgiveness: a Hermès Birkin bag . Rausch, flush with his $220,800 winnings, promised to deliver . Many of their castmates were skeptical, but Higgins sensed something different once the game was over. “I actually am [believing him], because we’re not in a game anymore,” she told Page Six Radio .
Rausch made good on his word on March 4, 2026, during a joint appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen . He presented Higgins with a burgundy Hermès Togo Birkin 30 with gold hardware, estimated to be worth between $16,000 and $22,000 . Before the reveal, host Andy Cohen polled the audience on whether a Birkin was sufficient apology, and roughly 90 percent voted yes .Quick Bio: Maura Higgins
Rausch donned white gloves to retrieve the iconic orange box, telling Higgins, “Only the owner’s supposed to touch it first” . Higgins was visibly thrilled, fanning herself and declaring, “See, this is my win” . After hugging Rausch, she confirmed, “You’re forgiven” . She later explained her logic: “I knew I would win. This is my moment” .
Securing a Birkin is notoriously difficult, requiring an established relationship with Hermès and significant prior purchases . Higgins immediately suggested Rausch enlist the help of their Traitors costar Lisa Rinna, who has extensive luxury fashion connections . Rinna connected Rausch with Madison Avenue Couture, a luxury reseller in New York City . Higgins called Rinna her “American mom” and credited her with making the apology possible .
The betrayal and its resolution transformed Higgins’ career trajectory in the United States. In April 2026, she was announced as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars Season 35 . Her professional partner was revealed on Good Morning America in September 2026 as Mark Ballas, a three-time Mirrorball champion who had also competed on The Traitors Season 4 alongside her . Ballas recalled Higgins telling him in the castle that she wanted to do the show, though he doubted her stamina at the time .
Their partnership brought a unique dynamic given their shared history in the Traitors castle. Ballas admitted they could never fully trust each other during filming, saying, “There was a moment where I was convinced it was her and Rob” . Higgins, for her part, asked Ballas a question during their first rehearsal that no partner had posed in his 22 seasons on the show: “Mark, on a scale of one to 10, how shite am I?” . He rated her a four at the time, but praised her work ethic and progress .
In September 2026, Peacock announced that Higgins and Rausch would reunite as co-hosts of a new competition series with the working title Get Me Out of Here, set to premiere in 2027 . The show, produced by ITV America, is an updated take on the global format I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! . It pairs celebrities with a non-famous friend or family member in a jungle environment, competing for a $100,000 grand prize .
The series will strip celebrities of their luxuries and force them to rely on their civilian partners through physical and psychological challenges . Rausch and Higgins will serve as hosts rather than competitors, a role that places them on the same side for the first time since their Traitors betrayal . The collaboration suggests the two have fully moved past the castle drama, with Higgins even teasing that Rausch might make a cameo on her DWTS season .
The Traitors finale betrayal and its Birkin resolution became a rare reality TV arc that concluded with genuine reconciliation rather than lingering animosity. Higgins turned a devastating loss into a career expansion, while Rausch converted his villainous win into a redemption narrative. Their upcoming hosting project demonstrates that in the reality TV ecosystem, even the most dramatic betrayals can become the foundation for future collaboration.Did Maura Higgins win The Traitors Season 4?
No. Higgins was a Faithful who made it to the final two alongside Rob Rausch but lost when he revealed himself as a Traitor . Rausch took the entire $220,800 prize pot for himself, leaving Higgins with nothing .
What happened between Maura Higgins and Rob Rausch in the finale?
Rausch, a secret Traitor, had maintained a close alliance with Higgins throughout the season, even making a pinky promise to reach the end together . In the final “Fire of Truth” ceremony, Rausch and Higgins voted to banish Eric Nam, leaving the two Love Island alumni as the final pair . When Rausch revealed his true identity, Higgins delivered her now-iconic reaction: “You absolute a–hole. You pinky promised. You’ve embarrassed me” .
Did Rob Rausch actually buy Maura Higgins a Birkin bag?
Yes. On March 4, 2026, during a joint appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Rausch presented Higgins with a burgundy Hermès Togo Birkin 30 with gold hardware, estimated to be worth between $16,000 and $22,000 . The bag was sourced from Madison Avenue Couture, a luxury reseller in New York City, with help from their fellow Traitors castmate Lisa Rinna, who connected Rausch with her contacts . Higgins declared, “See, this is my win,” and told Rausch, “You’re forgiven” .
What has Maura Higgins done since The Traitors?
Higgins’ profile in the United States expanded significantly after the show . She was announced as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars Season 35 and later secured a hosting role on a Disney+ revival of Blind Date . In September 2026, Peacock announced that Higgins and Rausch would reunite as co-hosts of a new competition series with the working title Get Me Out of Here, slated for 2027 .
