Television’s perpetual thorn certainly ruffled feathers in the South African jungle, but now Keira Maguire is out and nothing is going to stop her.
Last night the straight-talking 31-year-old was booted from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! along with official camp babe, Kris Smith.
Keira was one the show’s most controversial intruder, brought into the series with love guru Osher Guinsberg, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
While the bubbly blonde was hoping to spark up a romance, sadly no love was lost with her arrival which created a huge division within the camp.
Keira and Kris just missed out on finals week.
Knocking heads with nearly every celeb, it was her feud with shock jock Steve Price that had viewers hooked.
But thankfully, in the end she got there, bonding with swimming champ Lisa, Carson and Teagan.
Chatting to Keira, it’s clear she’s misunderstood, opinionated but actually incredibly charming.
We caught up with the reality star to talk about her time in the South African jungle!
The pretty blonde was a far cry from her usual glamourzonian style… But she still looked incredible!
How do you feel now that you’re out of the jungle?
I feel really good. Actually, I’m a little hungover I’m not going to lie! Otherwise I feel good [laughs]
What were you drinking?
They tried to give me a Coke, and I refused! I am NOT drinking soft drink. I had a glass of Merlot because they had no Pinot Noir. Well I had the bottle… I was like “Actually give me the bottle, I’ll take that thanks.”
What’s going to be the first thing you do when you get home?
You know what I literally haven’t had time to think about it. It’s all been such a whirlwind. I’ve walked out and not stopped. I think I just want to give my friends a hug.
On Keira’s first day, she requested no camp mate sit on her bed…
Much to some of the celebs’ dismay.
You love looking good and you’ve been very honest about your beauty routine – what are you dying to do now that you’re free
I’m probably due for a Fraxel treatment [a type of facial], which I had two weeks ago… To be honest I don’t do much. I had my lips done a year and half ago and my doctor refuses to put any more in there [laughs].
There really is nothing I’m dying to do… I’m not as bad as people think. I don’t know.
The whole cosmetic surgery thing really isn’t a huge deal. I’ve literally just had my lips done, my nose and some Botox. That’s it! Everyone overdramatises it. In fact, I’ve only had Botox done four times in my whole life. And I am 31 this year.
Keira got further with tucker trials than she did with Richie…
After The Bachelor, what made you do I’m a Celeb?
Look, to be honest with you, I have a full-time job. I’m not even joking with you, I was sitting in my office thinking “What am I doing with my life?”
Obviously, I love what I do but I was having one of those days where I was thinking, “What does my life mean,” and I kid you not, three hours later I get a phone call from Channel Ten asking me if I wanted to be on the show.
At this point the series had started. I was shocked that they left it so late, to ask me… I mean I do have a full time job. [Laughs] I knew there were amazing people in the jungle – people who have earned the right to be called a celebrity. Not for one minute did I think that I was even worthy of it.
I was grateful that Ten had asked me to do it and there was no way I would say no!
This isn’t the sort of facial Keira usually gets…
The 31-year-old described the tucker trials as “mentally and physically challenging.”
Speaking of Bachie – did you hear Matty J is the new Bachelor?
I am SO happy! Could they have gotten it any more right, this time?
Haha bit of a dig at Richie there. But seriously, what are your thoughts on Matty J as the Bachie, do you think you would have had better chemistry with him than Richie?
Matty J is not my type. But he’s amazing and really good to look at. I think he’ll do really well. I’m so excited! This show needs to come on already! Why do I have to wait?
Recently, photos of Richie and Alex were published and Alex looked completely heartbroken. Do you think they’ll last?
Look, anything can change within a relationship. I’m not too sure what is happening but if that is true, then I hope they’re OK, because that sounds really horrible.
Keira and Alex buried the hatchet once Bachelor ended.
Keira found a real friend in Carson.
What’s next for you? Thoughts on Bachelorette or even your own reality show?
I’m not one of those people that are like “I want to be famous, I want to be on TV!”
I don’t really care. If an opportunity comes my way and it is fitting and relevant to who I am and who I want to be then I’ll decide at that point.
I have been asked to do another reality TV show but I can’t because of my contract. I feel like I need a bit of a break.
[Shouts] I need to focus on my own reality! Just for a little while.
Lisa formed a stunning friendship with her jungle mate.
Just another jungle delight!
People in the camp and people who’ve watched both of your shows seem to think you’re diva but do you think it’s just a case of you being misunderstood?
It’s very hard… You’ve got to remember that the situations I’ve been putting myself in aren’t real. They’re not realistic.
I was in a situation where I was making myself vulnerable. I was put in a camp where the other [celebs] had already been there for three weeks. They’d already formed bonds and I just put my defence mechanisms up.
I’m one of those people that are really hard to get to know – especially in that environment. I don’t know, it’s hard.
A lot of people do have their misconceptions when they first meet me, but once they got to know me, they love me… Trust me!
Keira would consider doing reality TV again.
The audience loved seeing you in tucker trials and you always pulled through them. Looking back, what was it like always being voted in?
It was really hard because the other camp mates would get annoyed at me.
Initially, they were angry that I was always getting voted in. Then I addressed it and said “Listen guys, I have no control over this! Can you give me a break?” After that they pulled back, a little bit.
Honestly, I was constantly worried about what they were going to do and how they’d treat me. And then the actual trials were challenging both mentally and physically. I finally got to point where I accepted it and that was pretty much just before I left! [Laughs]
The whole time I really did struggle!
The pretty blonde will be stoked that she won’t have to do any of this again.
You and Lisa Curry formed a really lovely bond following your trial together – was she your jungle bestie? Who else did you love?
100% Lisa and I formed a really good bond and we’ll be staying in touch. I definitely got along with Tegan, Carson and Nat.
Who will you be staying in touch with from the show
We’re all going to catch up once the show’s over.
The good, bad and ugly, whoever we didn’t get along with, we’ll just suck it up. It is what it is.
