Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales Crowned Winners of Love Island USA Season 7
After weeks of romance, drama, and unexpected twists, the highly anticipated finale of Love Island USA Season 7 has concluded, with the public voting Amaya Espinal, 25, and Bryan Arenales, 28, as the winning couple. The pair takes home the coveted $100,000 grand prize, having captured the hearts of viewers with their genuine connection and late-season surge.
The finale saw four strong couples vying for the title: Amaya and Bryan, Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen (runners-up), Huda Mustafa and Chris Seeley (third place), and Iris Kendall and Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez (fourth place). However, it was the bond between New York City native Amaya, a cardiac nurse of Dominican descent, and Bryan, who is of Puerto Rican and Guatemalan heritage, that ultimately resonated most with the American public.
Amaya and Bryan
Amaya, affectionately nicknamed "Papaya" by fans, entered the villa as a bombshell in Episode 4 and quickly made an impression with her calm demeanor, emotional honesty, and unwillingness to play games. While her initial pairings didn't lead to lasting connections, she remained true to herself, earning widespread admiration. Bryan, who joined the villa during Casa Amor, initially coupled with Andreina Santos but found a deeper connection with Amaya back in the main villa. Their shared cultural background also played a significant role in their bond.
Their relationship blossomed in the final weeks of the season, culminating in Bryan asking Amaya to be exclusive during their final date – a sweet moment that solidified their status as a fan favorite. Upon winning, Bryan chose the envelope containing the $100,000 prize and, proving his sincerity, immediately opted to split the winnings with Amaya.
This season of Love Island USA, hosted by Ariana Madix, has been nothing short of a "cultural phenomenon," according to NBC Universal, becoming Peacock's most-watched entertainment series on mobile devices. It also garnered significant attention due to some tumultuous moments, including the departure of two contestants, Cierra Ortega and Yulissa Escobar, following the resurfacing of old posts containing racial slurs.
Despite these controversies, the season delivered on its promise of compelling reality television. Fans are eagerly awaiting the Love Island USA Season 7 reunion special, set to premiere on August 25, where Amaya and Bryan, along with other fan-favorite couples and bombshells, will revisit the season's biggest moments and provide an update on their post-villa lives.
As Amaya eloquently stated after their win, "Nobody should ever be tamed, and that 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." Her words, coupled with their undeniable chemistry, cemented Amaya and Bryan as truly deserving winners of Love Island USA Season 7.