The $100,000 Heartbreak: Who Won Love Island USA Season 7 And Where Are They Now?

The dramatic conclusion of Love Island USA Season 7 saw one couple walk away with the $100,000 grand prize, but the real test began the moment they left the villa. As of December 2025, the relationship status of the winning pair has been a major talking point, with the ultimate reality check hitting them shortly after the reunion special aired. This deep dive reveals the surprising winners, the details of their short-lived romance, and the current lives of the most memorable Islanders from the most recent "Season 7" of the popular dating show.

The highly-anticipated season, which delivered bombshells, Casa Amor chaos, and an unexpected final coupling, crowned its winners based on the public vote. However, in a shocking turn of events that proves the villa bubble is real, the winning couple did not last long in the outside world, leaving fans to wonder if the runners-up were the real success story.

Love Island USA Season 7 Winners: Full Biography and Profile

The winners of Love Island USA Season 7 were Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, who coupled up later in the season but quickly became a fan favorite due to their intense connection and dramatic journey. They beat out the other finalists to claim the top spot and the $100,000 prize.

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Amaya Espinal: The Bold Bombshell

• Full Name: Amaya Espinal (also known as Amaya Papaya)
• Age During Show: 25
• Hometown: New York City, New York
• Ethnicity: Dominican
• Occupation: Registered Nurse (RN)
• Villa Entry: Bombshell, Episode 4
• Key Role: Entered the villa with a bold, outspoken personality, working as a registered nurse in a hospital's cardiac unit prior to the show. Her strong opinions and self-assured nature made her a polarizing figure initially, but her genuine connection with Bryan won over the public.
• Post-Show Career: Focused on her social media presence as a reality star and TikTok personality, while maintaining her nursing credentials.

Bryan Arenales: The Casa Amor Charm

• Full Name: Bryan Arenales
• Age During Show: 28
• Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
• Occupation: Realtor, Financial Accountant, Bartender, and Personal Trainer
• Villa Entry: Casa Amor Bombshell, Day 17
• Key Role: Entered Casa Amor and immediately connected with Amaya, who was struggling in her previous coupling. His maturity and unwavering defense of Amaya during villa drama solidified their bond and made them a power couple.
• Post-Show Career: Returned to his multi-faceted career path, leveraging his reality TV fame for his real estate and financial accounting ventures.

The Shocking Split: Amaya and Bryan’s Post-Villa Heartbreak

Despite being crowned the winners of Love Island USA Season 7 and splitting the $100,000 prize money, the relationship between Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales ultimately failed to survive the transition from the villa to the real world. Their breakup was swift, shocking fans who had voted for their happy ending.

The couple confirmed their split just days after the reunion special aired on Peacock. While they appeared together at the reunion, confirming they were still dating, the pressure of the outside world, distance, and differing expectations proved too much to handle.

Amaya was the first to speak out, confirming the end of the relationship amid growing fan speculation. She shared that she was "still processing" the breakup, indicating that the decision was recent and difficult for both parties. The quick demise of their romance fueled the ongoing debate among fans about the true longevity of relationships formed on reality dating shows.

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The split highlighted a recurring theme in the Love Island franchise: the intense, isolated environment of the villa often creates a bubble that bursts upon returning to normal life. The couple, who had a strong physical and emotional connection on the show, could not make the logistics of a long-distance relationship work, especially with the added layer of public scrutiny.

The Real Success Stories: Where the Other Season 7 Couples Are Now

While the winners' story ended in a breakup, several other couples from Love Island USA Season 7 have continued their relationships, proving that the journey is often more important than the title. Following the finale, the focus shifted to the stability of the runners-up, who often find less pressure and more genuine compatibility.

The Runners-Up: Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen

Nic and Olandria finished as the runners-up of Season 7. Their journey was a slow burn, marked by initial friendship and a gradual progression into a romantic coupling. They faced less drama than the winning couple, building a solid foundation based on mutual respect and understanding.

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• Relationship Status: At the reunion, Nic and Olandria confirmed they were still together and were taking things slow, prioritizing a natural progression outside of the villa. They were widely considered the 'ultimate couple' by many fans, despite not winning the prize money.
• Post-Show Update: The couple has been navigating their relationship in the real world, sharing updates on social media that suggest a stable, committed partnership, contrasting sharply with the winners' swift split.

Other Notable Couples and Entrants

Topical authority demands a look at the other key entities and contestants who defined the season and their current status:

• Iris Kendall and Pepe: Finished in fourth place. Their relationship was a late-stage development, but they showed a promising connection. Their post-show status is less clear, but they were a strong contender in the final week.
• Huda Mustafa and Chris Seeley: Placed third in the finale. Their coupling was a fan favorite for its early chemistry and dramatic moments.
• Cierra Ortega: An original islander who struggled to find a lasting connection before leaving the show unexpectedly. Her departure was a key catalyst for Olandria and Nic's eventual coupling.
• Ace Greene and Austin Shepard: Original islanders whose time in the villa was shorter, but who were central to the initial coupling drama and the first dumpings of the season.

The Love Island Season 7 (UK) Context

For fans wondering about the original British version, it is important to note that the UK's Love Island also had a Season 7, which aired in 2021. The winners of Love Island UK Season 7 were Millie Court and Liam Reardon. Their journey was also tumultuous, including a famous Casa Amor betrayal that they managed to overcome. Like the USA winners, Millie and Liam also split after a year of dating, later briefly reuniting, making the "Season 7 curse" a recurring theme across both franchises.

Conclusion: The True Meaning of Winning

The story of Love Island USA Season 7, won by Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, serves as a powerful reminder that the $100,000 prize and the title of "winner" do not guarantee a lasting relationship. The public’s vote is a snapshot of popularity at the time of the finale, but the true success of the show lies in the connections that endure the pressures of the outside world.

Ultimately, while Amaya and Bryan won the money, it is couples like Nic and Olandria who appear to have found the genuine, slow-burn connection that many viewers tune in for. The drama of the winning couple’s swift split has become the most enduring and current legacy of Love Island USA Season 7, reinforcing the idea that sometimes, the runners-up are the real champions of love.