Curtis Pritchard sent Maura Higgins a message saying she was "stunning" last year.
The ‘Love Island’ star recently admitted he slid into his fellow Islander’s messages before the pair entered the villa, and it’s now been revealed he praised her appearance in a private Instagram DM.
The 23-year-old ballroom dancer sent the message back in November, but the 28-year-old model didn’t respond to his attempted advances.
A source close to him told The Sun newspaper: "Curtis was taken with Maura’s beauty so couldn’t resist sending her a cheeky message.
"He was embarrassed that she ignored him as he doesn’t often slide into girls’ DMs.
"He assumed she wasn’t interested. He loved ogling her sexy shots."
However, the tables have now turned and Maura is the one pursuing Curtis in the villa, but she was denied the chance to couple up with him in last night’s (11.07.19) episode when newcomer Francesca Allen chose him before Maura got the chance.
Maura turned her attentions to Curtis recently after he dumped "half-girlfriend" Amy Hart following a four-week romance in the villa.
Curtis had a change of heart while the girls were away at second villa Casa Amor, and ditched Amy upon her return.
The air stewardess later quit the show after a tearful few days without the dancer.
With Francesca picking Curtis on last night’s recoupling, Maura decided to give new boy Chris Taylor a chance when faced with a decision of choosing him or her former flame Marvin Brooks, who she brought back from Casa Amor, resulting in Marvin being axed from the island.
Following his exit, he said: "It was definitely a lot longer than I expected! In terms of finding someone romantically, I found it difficult but in terms of friendship, I had a brilliant time! It was unbelievable."
Curtis Pritchard sent Maura Higgins ‘stunning’ message in 2018
