Maura Higgins flaunts her washboard abs in a tiny white crop top in sizzling snap

Her Dancing On Ice skate partner Alexander Demetriou confirmed he had split from wife Carlotta Edwards, after being linked to the Love Island beauty. 

But Maura Higgins brushed off the drama as she showcased her washboard abs in a sizzling Instagram snap shared on Monday.

The Irish beauty, 29, looked incredible as she displayed her trim physique in a tiny white crop top while gazing seductively at the camera.

Maura teamed her top with a pair of blue jeans of which she tugged on for the sultry snap.

The former grid girl wore her curly brunette tresses in bunches and added a sleek palette of make-up to her face.

Maura’s snap comes just hours after Dancing On Ice star Alexander Demetriou confirmed he has separated from wife Carlotta Edwards.

The professional skater, 28, took to Instagram stories on Sunday to confirm the news and revealed to his followers that it had been a ‘tough time’ for him.

It comes amid weeks of speculation that their four year marriage was on the rocks amid reports that he became ‘besotted’ with Love Island beauty Maura.

In a statement posted on Instagram stories, Alexander said: ‘I’m Sorry I have been quiet on social media recently but it’s been a tough time for me personally. 

‘Carlotta and I have separated. Although it saddens me that we can no longer be together, I feel this is best for both of us.

‘I’m looking forward to what the future will bring but in the meantime let’s all say home and stay safe.’

While Alexander went public with a statement, Carlotta, 30, has remained silent, and has instead been hauled up in Calgary, Canada with her family. 

It comes after a friend of the former couple recently told their marriage troubles ‘came as a shock’, as they were so close before the last Dancing On Ice series.

A source spoke to The Sun about the visit to reveal: ‘Everything has seemed fine and her family thought they were having a good time. 

‘No one in her family suspected anything was up between them, so obviously this has all been quite a shock.’ 

Earlier this month it was reported that the pair had removed their wedding rings, with Carlotta having flown to her native Canada while Alexander remained in London. 

It was said their four-year marriage had ‘collapsed’, following his pairing with Maura on the ITV contest last year, where Alex allegedly became ‘besotted’ with the Irish beauty.

A source told The Sun: ‘Carlotta and Alex are taking a break from their marriage and are trying to work out what they want from the future.

‘Isolation is giving them a lot of time to think and both are with their families.

‘Alex’s friendship with Maura was the first proper crack in their relationship. But now they’re at breaking point.’

The insider went on to say that the couple’s friends are of the belief their ‘marriage is over’ due to Alex’s closeness with Maura, adding that the ‘trust’ the pair is ‘shattered’. 

They added that at the start of the furore it was believed to have been ‘just a flirtation’ between Maura and Alex, but with the two now in ‘constant contact’, their closeness is now ‘obvious’ for everyone to see.

The source went on to say that Carlotta was initially ‘hell bent’ on keeping up the ‘pretence’ of her marriage, but has now come to terms with the situation and is reassessing what to do next.   

A spokesman for Maura told MailOnline: ‘Maura and Alex had a great friendship whilst training for DOI this was always and has always been just professional, she regards him as a close friend and will continue to do so although they have not spoken in a few weeks. 

‘Maura has been single since splitting with Curtis, and is spending her time focusing on herself and some exciting projects she has lined up in the near future.

Last month it was reported that Carlotta had jetted to the home of parents Nancy and Peter in Port Edward, British Columbia to escape the furore surrounding her relationship. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Carlotta feels utterly humiliated that Alex has fallen for Maura and seems to have abandoned their marriage.

‘She tried to put a brave face on things during the final but she needed to get away from them both. She is now spending time with her family.’

They added: ‘The fact Alex has since been seen having coffee with Maura and leaving her home speaks volumes.’ 

The reports came after it was claimed Maura split from her Love Island boyfriend Curtis Pritchard earlier this year after rows over her friendship with the skater. 

Responding to speculation linking Maura and Alex, Curtis recently revealed that Maura forbid him from coming to watch her skate with Alex and that he’s sure nothing ‘more’ happened between the pair.

Curtis, 24, said to The Sun: ‘I have no proof that anything more has happened between them. I don’t like to think about it.

‘I don’t want to look back over the past few months for warning signs. But it’s not nice to read about her relationship with Alex and to see pictures of them together.

‘I went to her first three shows, but after that she asked me not to come. She said she had terrible nerves and it was easier without me there. I just accepted that. I wasn’t concerned about there being anything romantic between her and Alex.’