Maura Higgins has broken her silence after she was spotted snogging Joey Essex at the Pride of Britain Awards on Monday night.
The reality stars seemed to enjoy each other's company outside the venue as they shared a smooch before leaving together in a taxi.
The Love Island alum, 31, and the former TOWIE man, 32, were spotted passionately kissing after the event in London - and now Maura has taken to Instagram to address the kiss - joking "it's how I greet people".
The Irish Islander shared her friend’s clip to her Instagram Story on Tuesday where the brunette bombshell could be seen licking her girl pal’s face.
“She’s a licker,” her makeup artist friend Krystal Dawn wrote on the video - seeming to allude to the smooch Maura shared with Joey the night before.
To which Maura wrote: "It's how I greet people".
Maura and Joey sent tongues wagging as the ceremony came to a close.
The pair were snapped smiling at each other before locking lips after Joey edged closer to the Irish beauty.
After the pair embraced in a hug, they soon headed off together and grabbed a taxi away from the venue with a number of pals.
For the ceremony, Maura showcased a stunning Belle-style look as she turned into a real-life Disney princess. The reality TV star donned a glamorous frilly yellow tulle dress.
The design, which sported a halter neck and was backless, hugged her figure perfectly and she opted to wear her hair pulled back with slight curls.
Joey meanwhile looked his usual dapper self in a smart suit with a white shirt and red tie combo.
Maura and Joey's romance comes a year after she split with from her former Strictly Come Dancing beau Giovanni Pernice. The pair's whirlwind romance lasted four months but was said to have soured shortly after they decided to move in together.
At the time, Maura was reported to have been "absolutely devastated" by the breakdown in their relationship.
