Fans may not be happy with Love Island USA Season 7, but they sure are heaping praise on star Amaya Espinal! Amaya was one of the first bombshells on Season 7. She entered the villa along with Hannah Fields at the end of week one. Amaya’s time on the show hasn’t been an easy ride. But she’s remained positive and keeps smiling (and singing) through it. While some Season 7 cast members are strategic, she always wears her heart on her sleeve. Now, Amaya’s reached a million followers on Instagram. She’s the second girl to do so after Huda Mustafa. Here’s how Amaya rose through the ranks to become Love Island USA Season 7 fan favorite and breakout star.
Why became a fan favorite amidst a rough journey in the Love Island USA Season 7 villa
Amaya got off on the wrong foot when she entered the villa with Hannah. She arrived during a challenge, and chose to kiss Jeremiah Brown. This upset Huda so much that she threw up middle fingers, and called Amaya a “b*tch.” Amaya didn’t realize how closed off Huda and Jeremiah were, and backed off him completely. Already, she was placed on the defensive.
With Jeremiah off limits, then Ace Greene picked Amaya in a recoupling. This came out of left field, because everyone assumed Ace would pick Chelley Bissainthe. I still don’t know why he picked Amaya, because he was instantly awful to her. He chastised her for calling him “babe” too soon, and choose to sleep in Soul Ties the entire week they were together. When Amaya kissed bombshells, he made it all about himself, cheering as if he were forced to couple up with her.
Austin Shepard seemed to show interest in Amaya, but he pulled away the second they coupled up. He told others she was too intense. But he lied to her that things were fine, even when she asked his honest criticism. In Casa, Amaya recoupled with Zak Srakaew, but he shunned her once they entered the villa.
Things came to a head with the postcard challenge. Almost every islander criticized Amaya nonstop. They brought her to tears. And Bryan Arenales was the only one to stick up for her. While the Islanders piled on Amaya, they should’ve remembered that people love an underdog.
Our favorite Amaya moments
Love Island USA fans are disappointed with this season because it is increasingly dark, depressing, and mean. There’s not a lot of love on this island! Fans love Amaya because she stays so positive, no matter how horrible her experience has been. Her best moments show how she’s a light in a an increasingly dark season.
Amaya’s wears her heart on her sleeve
Amidst the tense moments, Amaya makes viewers laugh. Even when she melodramatically sobs during a controversial elimination. When Charlie Georgiou tried to defend himself as he was on the chopping block, she interrupted him by screaming “Nooooo!” It was as if she was thought they had to vote someone to walk the plank instead of just leaving the villa. Her outsized reactions are proof she wears her heart on her sleeve.
Her unfiltered reactions and tendency to speak her mind no matter what make Amaya excellent comedic relief. Which is sorely needed during tense moments. When Taylor Williams made his surprising Casa Amor recoupling choice, Amaya yelled “Taylor!” as if she were coupled up with him. It was one of the only moments this season that reached the heightened emotions Casa Amor recouplings are usually known for.
Amaya released the song of the summer
Amaya is so funny, she essentially has her own Unseen Bits segment on AfterSun now. First, we saw a clip of her singing to herself. “I never said I was perfect … I never said I didn’t have any flaws … but at least I’m pretty … and kinda funny … and at least I’m my own best friend” is my song of the summer, personally. The next week, they showed a clip of her hyping herself up in Casa, talking about how she’ll be the coolest grandma because she was on Love Island. When she returned from Casa, she sang a song about how happy she was to be back “home” in the main villa. Then, she did a cartwheel in the dressing room. She’s just so fun to watch!
Amaya is endlessly quotable
Amaya also has a lovely self-deprecating humor. Take the moment she mistakenly thought Belgium was in Germany. She laughed this off and said, “I’m not good at maps!” Even in her lowest moments, she comes up with inspired quotes. Such as when she called herself a “sensitive gangster” while admitting she cries a lot. After the gang-up in the postcard challenge, she said, “Sometimes, I’m not the book that someone should be reading, and that’s okay.” Oh Amaya, you’re a NYT Best Seller in our eyes!
As Love Island USA contestants are criticized as too strategic, Amaya remains true to herself
A major criticism of Love Island USA is that the contestants are too strategic and focused on their image. One big complaint is that contestants only care about influencer careers now. I have to push back on this as a specific Season 7 criticism. “People only go on the show to be influencers” has been a viewer complaint since I started watching Love Island pre-pandemic. Take Molly Mae Hague, one of the most successful stars with one of the longest relationships to come out of Love Island. On her season, she was ripped apart for already being an influencer and seemingly only going on to boost her career. Now, she’s one of the most popular stars ever.
It’s completely inaccurate to act like this is a uniquely Season 7 problem. Let’s face it, everyone who goes on this show hopes for an influencer career. It’s just a factor of the show at large. And all reality shows, if we’re being honest!
That rant aside, the islanders are extra strategic this year. Ace acts like he’s on Big Brother instead of Love Island. The cast appear to try and replicate Season 6 dynamics, so relationships feel forced and not genuine.
But Amaya clearly has no strategy. She didn’t even get someone to run her socials for her while she’s in the villa. The fact that she reached a million IG followers anyway shows how well viewers respond to someone so authentic. Amaya has no interest in watering herself down for an image. And we love her for it. More contestants like Amaya in Season 8 please!
Love Island USA is available to stream on Peacock.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE THAT AMAYA ESPINAL IS THE BREAKOUT OF LOVE ISLAND USA SEASON 7? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HER?
