Amaya “Papaya” Espinal stole millions of hearts across America through viral memes, hilarious mispronunciations, and the new hit song of the summer, so it was no surprise to Love Island USA viewers that she and Bryan Arenales were crowned the winners of Season 7. However, life in the villa wasn’t always the easiest for Espinal, who went through a series of bad connections before meeting Arenales, otherwise known as the “perfect glass slipper” to her “Dominican Cinderella.”
After joining Love Island USA as a bombshell in Episode 4, Espinal coupled up with Ace Greene, who swiftly set forth a list of rules and boundaries—no calling him “babe” and no cuddling—despite the fact that he was the one who chose Espinal. Once the New York native ended things with Greene, she found herself in couple with Austin Shepard, who, like Greene, felt uncomfortable with her intense approach to their newfound relationship and emotional responses. It was during Espinal’s time with Shepard that she nearly removed herself from the villa.
“There was one point where I was honestly about to pack my bags and leave on my own, because I just really did feel misunderstood at a certain point,” Espinal told Decider over a recent Zoom interview. “At that point, I didn’t even know Casa Amor was around the corner, but I’m happy that I stuck it out.”
The tides began to turn when Arenales joined the villa from Casa Amor, and as Espinal faced a brutal pile-on from her former connections during the “Stand on Business” challenge, he was the only one to defend her. “We just started off as friends, which I love. When I stood up for her in that challenge, it was honestly just natural,” Arenales said, noting that he understood Espinal’s personality on a cultural level since they both come from Latino backgrounds.
While Espinal took a bit of an emotional beating throughout the first half of Season 7, she ultimately found a perfect connection in Arenales. “I’m thankful for every past connection because it led me to the connection that I was supposed to have,” she said. “A closed door is never rejection, it’s just a redirection. “
When we caught up with the Season 7 winners, they revealed their favorite viral moment from Espinal, their plans now that they are back to real life, and what advice they’d give to all the “sensitive gangsters” out there looking for love. Check out the full interview below.
DECIDER: Congrats on your big win! You both got the Zoomies and did a victory lap around the villa when Ariana Madix made the announcement. What was that moment like for you?
BRYAN ARENALES: It felt great knowing that people have been supporting us and seeing how our connection just grew day by day.
Amaya, what was your reaction when you got your phone back and realized how much America had fallen in love with you? Are you ready for all the amazing things that are coming your way?
AMAYA ESPINAL: Wow. Honestly, I felt so overwhelmed but in the best ways possible. All of the love and all of the support and seeing the people rooting for us has been beautiful to see, and powerful. We’re open [to any opportunities]. I’m definitely open. He’s open. So we’re ready to see what the next couple steps are for us to be taken.
Bryan, you closed off the season by making things exclusive with Amaya. Are you already planning your first post-villa dates? What do you plan on doing together once you’re fully back to real life?
BRYAN: Yeah, for sure. Like I’ve been saying, I got to get shawty her truffle pasta. I got to find a spot out here in LA. I think the next steps are to just catch up with family and go see family and eventually get our families to meet each other. We want to see each other’s family. We’re both huge on family.
We could see that on family day! The tears were definitely flowing in my house when your families surprised you.
AMAYA: It was a really big surprise. We did not think that they would be there in person.
BRYAN: Seeing them on the screen was already a wow moment and then seeing them in person was crazy.
Amaya, there were so many viral moments from you, from the way you pronounced certain words, to the new song of the summer. Which moment surprised you the most when you realized how much it had blown up?
AMAYA: The die skiving thing when I was just talking to Elan. Because he never corrected me! So, I didn’t even recognize that I was mispronouncing the word. So it was like, “Oh! OK!”
Bryan, do you have a favorite viral moment from Amaya?
BRYAN: Ooh, there’s a few. The thumbs down was pretty funny.
AMAYA: You saw that? Babe!
BRYAN: That one was hilarious, her face and everything.
One of those viral moments was after one of the first votes when Amaya started sobbing and screaming, “We don’t want to do that!” What do you remember feeling in that moment? Who was the hardest goodbye this season?
AMAYA: Besides Olandria’s elimination, it was Charlie’s. We actually did have a great friendship. That was my first time ever having to vote someone off. I’ve seen some of the comments and they’re like, “Dude, she’s acting like someone’s getting beheaded.” Bro, that’s how it felt! The emotions were so high and that’s how I really felt. Like, Charlie, I’m sorry.
Bryan, you were giving nothing but green flags when you were the only one to defend Amaya during the “Stand on Business” challenge. Was that the moment you realized how much you liked her? Or did your feelings start long before that?
BRYAN: Honestly, I was physically attracted to her the day we all met at Casa. We just started off as friends, which I love. When I stood up for her in that challenge, it was honestly just natural. I had seen the position she was in and I think it was just a cultural thing. They weren’t getting it. I stood up and said my piece about it and how that’s just a cultural thing between us. The next day we had a chat and I think that’s when everything with us started.
Amaya, your Love Island journey was pretty bumpy up until you met Bryan. How do you look back on those couplings now, particularly with Ace and Austin?
AMAYA: Me and Ace are definitely in a good place now. He is one of my friends. I’m thankful for every past connection because it led me to the connection that I was supposed to have. A closed door is never rejection, it’s just a redirection.
I have to say, Ace was so mean to you when you guys were coupled up, but you stayed so positive and you were still able to joke around. I remember you talking to Pepe and telling him that Ace was your enemy.
AMAYA: Yeah, for sure. I like to deal with my pain in a sarcastic way and make little jokes like that.
Bryan, you had everyone in tears when you said, “We are two misunderstood people who understand each other.” Did you ever expect to find a love like this when you first signed onto the show?
BRYAN: To be completely honest, no. I was really like, “This is an experience I’ll tell my kids about. And if I walk out with somebody, great. If not, then the experience was worth it.” And I met Amaya, and that’s been the best part of my experience on Love Island.
Amaya, did you ever expect that this is where you would be at the end of it all?
AMAYA: I was just very optimistic. I definitely joined Love Island because I was ready to be dating someone. So, after every failed connection, I was like, “Damn, am I going to find my person?” But then he fell right in my lap and your girl is just happy.
I imagine it’s easy to get discouraged in the villa, especially since you’re not seeing what the whole world thinks. Was there ever a moment where you thought you were leaving?
AMAYA: To be honest with you, I never focused on the voting or elimination. But there was one point where I was honestly about to pack my bags and leave on my own, because I just really did feel misunderstood at a certain point. But then I was like, “You know what? Just stay strong, be the strong soldier that you are.” My skin just grew thicker from it.
At what point were you considering leaving? Was it during the Ace stuff? The Austin stuff?
AMAYA: It was right before I left for Casa Amor. It was right after the whole Austin thing and him talking about that miscommunication. At that point, I didn’t even know Casa Amor was around the corner, but I’m happy that I stuck it out.
I think everybody’s happy you stuck it out. You also got to split a $100,000 cash prize, which Bryan had in his envelope. Amaya, was there any part of you that was nervous that Bryan wouldn’t split it? And Bryan, was there ever any part of you that wanted to keep it for yourself?
AMAYA: To be honest, you never know. You never know, but I felt like if he would have done that, I would have been like, “Nah, this is not the man for me.”
BRYAN: I don’t think I would have made it back home if I took the money. But no, it honestly wasn’t a thought. The minute I saw that she had the zero, she opened it first, I looked at her and smiled, like, it doesn’t matter. But yeah, I probably wouldn’t be here right now if I took that.
What advice would you guys give all the sensitive gangsters out there who are looking for love?
AMAYA: We would say tears and emotions are not a weakness. It’s a strength. Just because you shed some tears, does not mean that you can’t hold your own self. You are your own backbone. So continue on expressing yourself and anybody who thinks that’s too much for them, find less.
BRYAN: Yeah, be unapologetically you at all times.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Love Island USA Season 7 is currently streaming on Peacock.