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Over the weekend, Love Island USA Season 7 winner Amaya Espinal was rushed to a hospital for emergency surgery after experiencing severe abdominal pain. The cause of Espinal’s illness is still unknown, but she remains in stable condition at a Los Angeles hospital, according to TMZ.
The reality TV star fell ill while filming Season 2 of Beyond the Villa, a Love Island USA spin-off series. However, Espinal was not on set when she became sick.
Amaya Espinal became a fan favorite on ‘Love Island USA’
Before becoming a fan favorite on Love Island USA, Espinal worked as a nurse and a rising social media influencer. Her vibrant personality and catchy slogans helped her gain popularity on the reality show, as well as partnerships with popular brands like Poppi.
Amaya Papaya is Espinal’s nickname, becoming viral so much so that when people searched “Amaya Papaya,” at the peak of the season, results showed falling papayas.”
Amaya Espinal broke up with Bryan Arenales in August
Espinal and her co-star Bryan Arenales split up shortly after they won Season 7 of Love Island USA. The pair announced their breakup in an Instagram statement two days after the reunion episode.
“My Papayas —Bryan and I are no longer together. After leaving the villa, it became very clear that we were on two different journeys,” Espinal wrote, per Parade. “Our visions didn’t align and relationships are supposed to be a team sport. You don’t have to drink the whole sea to know it’s salty. All love here and I truly wish him the best. — Amaya Papaya.”
Arenales also addressed the situation on his Instagram account: “Amaya and I have decided to go our separate ways. Unfortunately, we were not on the same page, and that is OK,” he wrote via Instagram Stories, per Parade. “We both gained clarity that we are on different paths right now. I am thankful for the time we have spent together, and I wish her nothing but the best moving forward.”
Both Espinal and Arenales are among the Season 7 cast members set to star in Season 2 of the Love Island USA spinoff, Love Island: Beyond the Villa.
