Spoilers below.
Season 7 of Love Island USA was rocky as feuds and halfhearted connections ran amok in the villa. But beloved islander Amaya Espinal, who was crowned the winner alongside Bryan Arenales, quickly became a bright spot.
Endearingly known by fans as “Amaya Papaya,” the 25-year-old cardiac nurse from New York City entered the show as a bombshell in episode 4. Before connecting with Arenales, she explored romances with other islanders—namely Ace Greene, Austin Shepard, and Zak Srakaew—and emerged as a fan favorite for her fervor, humor, and unabashed candor.
Viewers online rallied around Espinal after tensions came to a head in the July 1 episode. During a game called “Stand on Business,” Greene, Shepard, and Srakaew lambasted Espina, accusing her of being too emotional and trying to move too fast. While Greene recalled her proclivity for calling him “babe” early on, Shepard and Srakaew aired out similar grievances. “When we speak, obviously, I let you be passionate with me. I let you kiss me. I let you touch me,” Srakaew said, as if he had done her a favor. “Sometimes I feel like I have to take a step back.”
Arenales was the only guy who spoke up for Espinal, offering insight from a cultural standpoint. “One thing I got to add, though, coming from a Hispanic household, calling someone ‘babe,’ ‘mi amor,’ ‘mi vida,’ that’s just how we talk,” he said, defending Espinal, who’s Dominican-American. “You’re telling her meet you halfway—you got to meet her halfway, too.”
Throughout her journey, Espinal represented the credo that being passionate, vulnerable, and outspoken is OK and, better yet, a superpower. After taking criticism from Greene, Shepard, and Srakaew in front of all the islanders, she tearfully reaffirmed her own worth, saying, “I’m just not your cup of tea to be drinking, so don’t fucking drink it.” Embodying the name of the game, she stood on business.
Her self-proclaimed “sensitive gangster” epithet became a rallying cry for fans who saw parts of themselves in her. She didn’t have the easiest time finding love on the show, but she led with her heart and seemed to have honest intentions—a refreshing foil to the season’s contrived tone. That ultimately brought her and Arenales together—and earned them the $100,000 prize, some of which they plan to donate to charity, per their interview with the TODAY show.
With her unfeigned energy, heartfelt reactions, and comical commentary, Espinal reminded viewers that being genuine is still the most compelling thing to watch. Ahead, look back at some of her funniest and most memorable moments that won over fans.
Episode 6: When she compared the villa to Skittles
Before things between Espinal and Greene turned sour, the two seemed to enjoy getting to know each other. In one conversation, Greene asked the bombshell if she had been exploring connections, to which she replied, “I would have to say that this is like a bags of Skittles. There’s different flavors, different backgrounds, different connections.” (For what it’s worth, according to Peacock’s subtitles, Espinal said “box of Skittles,” but fans are having more fun with the former.)
Episode 7: When she had the perfect response to Greene’s “babe” denouncement
Espinal and Greene’s rift started forming after the latter expressed discomfort with pet names. Espinal defended using the word “babe,” and to no avail, tried to explain that it’s just a part of her vernacular. When she blurted out “babe” yet again, she corrected herself, quipping, “Oh, sorry…sir.”
Episode 12: When she bawled after the islanders were told to dump someone from the villa
During a recoupling, Espinal and her castmates were forced to decide which islander to dump. As several people burst into tears, Espinal cut through the sound of muffled cries, shouting, “No! No, we don’t want to do that. We don’t want to do that, though!” The moment went viral online, with one TikTok user writing, “THIS IS CINEMA.”
Episode 17: When she introduced the song of the summer
During an “Aftersun” segment, viewers saw a clip of Espinal singing an impromptu song that became an instant anthem. “I never said I was perfect,” she improvised. “I never said I didn’t have any flaws. But at least I’m pretty, and at least I’m a little funny. And at least I’m my own best friend.”
That wasn’t the only wholesome singing moment, either. Can we expect an Amaya Papaya album drop after the season wraps?
Episode 20: When she put her best foot forward—and up to the camera
Despite her lack of romantic connections, Espinal has kept a positive attitude. In a confessional, she hoisted one of her feet up to the camera, declaring, “My best foot is forward, and right now, we have some gold motherfucking heels on, and gold is my lucky color, so we’re hoping for the best.”
Episode 26: When she shut down Shepard with a quick one-liner
During “Stand on Business,” Greene blasted Shepard for being dishonest with Espinal. Shepard, who denied leading her on, then had a heated exchange with Espinal. At one point, he seemed to question her intelligence. “This was a chance to air stuff out, Amaya. Do you not understand what a chance to air stuff out is? It doesn’t seem like you do,” Shepard, a pool boy, said to Espinal, a registered nurse. Fans called out Shepard online, saying his comments exemplified the types of microaggressions that women of color often experience.
Espinal stood her ground, and when Shepard insinuated that her reaction was over the top, she fired back, “You’re the one with the neck veins popping out of your neck right now.” And that was the end of that.
Episode 26: When she unapologetically spoke her truth
After reading Shepard’s harsh “Stand on Business” letter, which said she cries too much, Espinal reminded the islanders that she’s a “sensitive gangster.” Refusing to apologize for wearing her heart on her sleeve, she added, “You know, sometimes I’m not the book that someone should be reading, and that’s OK.”
Episode 27: When she snubbed Srakaew after their chat went awry
Following the “Stand on Business” challenge, Srakaew pulled Espinal for a chat to clear the air. He apologized for dogpiling, then tried to explain why he hadn’t been transparent about his feelings toward her. Espinal called him dishonest and declared in her confessional, “Baby, I’m standing on business today. Last time I checked, I got ten toes—not one toe missing. So I’m gonna stand on business on my ten toes.”
She walked away from the conversation with Srakaew, telling him, “You’re an extremely odd individual, and I do not want to fucking talk to you ever again.”
Episode 28: When she traded her bikini for a muʻumuʻu
Viewers were pleasantly surprised to see Espinal wearing a green muʻumuʻu around the villa. The garment, which holds a rich history across different cultures, was a refreshing deviation from the islanders’ typical swimsuit looks. “It gave regal! It gave ‘welcome to my mansion,’” one TikTok user wrote. “Very rich, very classy.”
Espinal told TODAY that she bought the muʻumuʻu during a Portugal trip. She said wearing it on the show grounded her and “reminded me of my travels and the good moments when I was having the bad days."
Episode 30: When she gave us a sweet motto to live by
Espinal hashed out her issues with Srakaew and said their connection was still worth exploring, as long as he “put in the work.” She added: “Listen, I’m not going to have a sugar rush anymore from the word candy that you’re feeding me, because actions and words are two different things.” Add this to the list of our favorite Amaya-isms.
Episode 31: When she gave New York City pigeons a shoutout
After Espinal recoupled with Arenales, they talked about their burgeoning romance and made plans to get truffle pasta together in New York. In a confessional, Espinal gushed over their connection: “I have no regrets,” she said. “I feel free. I feel like l could fly like the pigeons back in New York City. But I’ll be a really pretty, clean pigeon.”
Episode 33: When she and Arenales schemed on behalf of Huda Mustafa and Chris Seeley
Espinal and Arenales embarked on a classified mission to unite Mustafa and Seeley, who hit a rough patch in their relationship. Using a hilarious secret hand signal—a flying bird—Espinal and Arenales separately convinced Mustafa and Seeley to go to a dock before ditching them. The quarreling couple shared a laugh, realizing they’d been hoodwinked and left alone to work out their problems while a giggly Espinal and Arenales hid on a nearby balcony.
Episode 36: When she accepted Love Island USA’s winning title with a heartfelt message
Espinal, being the sensitive ganger she is, broke into tears of joy after she and Arenales secured the season win. “This is just a message to everyone out there who’s misunderstood,” she said. “Nobody should ever be tamed, and there’s always someone out there for you who’s going to love you for you and appreciate all of your craziness or whoever you are. Don’t ever settle for nobody.”
This story has been updated.
