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Business Insider
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Yes, Ace — America actually loves Amaya
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard or seen someone talking about season seven of "Love Island USA." You know, the show where a bunch of 20-somethings occupy a villa in Fiji without contact with the outside world for weeks on end in the hopes of finding love. Oh, and winning the $100,000 cash prize. Unlike seasons past, where the prize has seemed to be an afterthought for contestants, this year's islanders seem to be "hyper-aware of their role as entertainers and competitors," Business Insider's Callie Ahlgrim assessed, adding that they're "much too preoccupied with how they're being perceived by an invisible audience to be truly honest and vulnerable with each other." But just because they're aware America is watching doesn't necessarily mean they're truly self-aware, or have a grasp on how the audience will feel about them — at least until some of the viewer votes start rolling in and actually affect their experience. That was made especially clear in last night's episode as the audience rallied around fan-favorite Amaya Espinal, fondly known as "Amaya Papaya." Amaya has received criticism from her fellow islanders Amaya has been critiqued by her fellow islanders throughout her "Love Island" experience for being "too emotional and affectionate," but her peers finally got to see just how much America's been rooting for her in a challenge called "Hate to Burst Your Bubble." In the game, contestants were asked to assess fellow islanders based on categories like "Most Trustworthy" and "Most Genuine" and rank each other from most to least. Then, they'd see how America answered the same questions. When asked to rank the women from most to least trustworthy, the men ranked Amaya third to last. America, however, ranked her first, as the most trustworthy, prompting a raised eyebrow from her former connection, Ace Greene, who commented, "That wasn't in my parlay." Although Ace and Amaya were previously coupled up, their pairing was a contentious one, filled with miscommunications and tension. A particularly notable exchange that's reverberated throughout the season centered around Ace telling Amaya he wasn't comfortable being called "babe" so quickly. When she tried to explain that she "calls everyone babe," she slipped up and called him the pet name in the process. Her subsequent connections, Austin Shepard and Zak Srakaew, also expressed similar sentiments in the recent "Stand on Business" challenge. For the next category, the men ranked Amaya as the second-most genuine, and America voted her first again. This challenge showed the cast what the viewers see Finally seeming to catch on to Amaya's popularity with viewers, the islanders collectively ranked her and her connection, Zak Srakaew, as the couple the audience would most like to go on vacation with, and, unsurprisingly, they were right. As a viewer who voted for Amaya as one of my favorite islanders, I hope this challenge served as a seemingly much-needed confidence boost for her to continue being her authentic self in her search for love, and a reminder to the other islanders that authenticity — not strategy — is the strength of "Love Island."
Elle
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Why Amaya Is the MVP of 'Love Island USA' This Season
Spoilers below. Season seven of Love Island USA has been rocky as feuds and halfhearted connections run amok in the villa. But there's a bright spot, and her name is Amaya Espinal. Endearingly known by fans as 'Amaya Papaya,' the 25-year-old cardiac nurse from New York City entered the show as a bombshell in episode 4. In the subsequent weeks, she explored romances with different islanders—namely Ace Greene, Austin Shepard, and Zak Srakaew—emerging as a fan favorite for her fervor, humor, and unabashed candor. Recently, viewers online rallied around Espinal after tensions came to a head in the July 1 episode. During a game called 'Stand on Business,' Greene, Shepard, and Srakaew lambasted Espina, accusing her of being too emotional and trying to move too fast. While Greene recalled her proclivity for calling him 'babe' early on, Shepard and Srakaew aired out similar grievances. 'When we speak, obviously, I let you be passionate with me. I let you kiss me. I let you touch me,' Srakaew said, as if he had done her a favor. 'Sometimes I feel like I have to take a step back.' Fellow islander Bryan Arenales was the only guy who spoke up for Espinal, offering insight from a cultural standpoint. 'One thing I got to add, though, coming from a Hispanic household, calling someone 'babe,' 'mi amor,' 'mi vida,' that's just how we talk,' he said, defending Espinal, who's Dominican-American. 'You're telling her meet you halfway—you got to meet her halfway, too.' Throughout her journey, Espinal has represented the credo that being passionate, vulnerable, and outspoken is OK and, better yet, a superpower. After taking criticism from Greene, Shepard, and Srakaew in front of all the islanders, she tearfully reaffirmed her own worth, saying, 'I'm just not your cup of tea to be drinking, so don't fucking drink it.' Embodying the name of the game, she stood on business. Her self-proclaimed 'sensitive gangster' epithet has become a rallying cry for fans who see parts of themselves in her. She hasn't had the easiest time finding love on the show, but she continues to lead with her heart and seems to have honest intentions—a refreshing foil to this season's contrived tone. Sure, the point of Love Island is to find love, and Espinal hasn't done that yet. But let's be real: The selection of men is slim. And at this point, with so few couples to root for, Espinal is unknowingly making the case to grant single contestants the show's $100,000 prize. With her unfeigned energy, heartfelt reactions, and comical commentary, Espinal has reminded viewers that being genuine is still the most compelling thing to watch. Ahead, look back at some of her funniest and most memorable moments that won over fans. Before things between Espinal and Greene turned sour, the two seemed to enjoy getting to know each other. In one conversation, Greene asked the bombshell if she had been exploring connections, to which she replied, 'I would have to say that this is like a bags of Skittles. There's different flavors, different backgrounds, different connections.' (For what it's worth, according to Peacock's subtitles, Espinal said 'box of Skittles,' but fans are having more fun with the former.) Espinal and Greene's rift started forming after the latter expressed discomfort with pet names. Espinal defended using the word 'babe,' and to no avail, tried to explain that it's just a part of her vernacular. When she blurted out 'babe' yet again, she corrected herself, quipping, 'Oh, sorry…sir.' During a recoupling, Espinal and her castmates were forced to decide which islander to dump. As several people burst into tears, Espinal cut through the sound of muffled cries, shouting, 'No! No, we don't want to do that. We don't want to do that, though!' The moment went viral online, with one TikTok user writing, 'THIS IS CINEMA.' During an 'Aftersun' segment, viewers saw a clip of Espinal singing an impromptu song that became an instant anthem. 'I never said I was perfect,' she improvised. 'I never said I didn't have any flaws. But at least I'm pretty, and at least I'm a little funny. And at least I'm my own best friend.' That wasn't the only wholesome singing moment, either. Can we expect an Amaya Papaya album drop after the season wraps? Despite her lack of romantic connections, Espinal has kept a positive attitude. In a confessional, she hoisted one of her feet up to the camera, declaring, 'My best foot is forward, and right now, we have some gold motherfucking heels on, and gold is my lucky color, so we're hoping for the best.' During 'Stand on Business,' Greene blasted Shepard for being dishonest with Espinal. Shepard, who denied leading her on, then had a heated exchange with Espinal. At one point, he seemed to question her intelligence. 'This was a chance to air stuff out, Amaya. Do you not understand what a chance to air stuff out is? It doesn't seem like you do,' Shepard, a pool boy, said to Espinal, a registered nurse. Fans called out Shepard online, saying his comments exemplified the types of microaggressions that women of color often experience. Espinal stood her ground, and when Shepard insinuated that her reaction was over the top, she fired back, 'You're the one with the neck veins popping out of your neck right now.' And that was the end of that. After reading Shepard's harsh 'Stand on Business' letter, which said she cries too much, Espinal reminded the islanders that she's a 'sensitive gangster.' Refusing to apologize for wearing her heart on her sleeve, she added, 'You know, sometimes I'm not the book that someone should be reading, and that's OK.'
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Is Justin Bieber targeting trolls with his Instagram story spam after that viral paparazzi meltdown in Malibu?
The internet might still be laughing, but Justin Bieber is having the last laugh, through a perfectly curated Instagram Story, of course. After the pop star's fiery paparazzi showdown went viral for his now-iconic line 'It's not clocking to you that I'm standing on business,' he responded the only way a certified legend would: with cheeky selfies and a playlist that doubles as a clapback. Not clocking the Bieber energy? That's a you problem said the OG himself ICYMI, the 31-year-old was papped during a Malibu beach stroll, and instead of silently tolerating the lens invasion, he snapped. In the viral footage, Justin firmly told the paparazzi that he was a father, a husband, and a man with zero tolerance for games—basically declaring he was not one to be played with. He even suggested the photographers were trying to provoke him on purpose. The selfie mania of Justin Bieber Fast forward a few days, and Bieber decided to break the internet again—on his own terms. He posted a dramatic black-and-white selfie, serving hoodie-core and beard realness, and paired it with Myia B Music's Stand on Business. Coincidence? Absolutely not. He did not stop there. The Peaches singer went full-on meme mode, uploading more selfies with tracks like Soulja Rilla's Standing on Business and Fredo Bang's Dat Business. The message was loud, clear, and dripping with sarcasm: he knows you are laughing, and he is laughing harder. Twitter explodes over his energy Naturally, X (formerly Twitter) was in stitches over the entire saga. One fan admitted they had been repeating Justin's phrase all day. Another joked it was the best thing he had done since Journals. Say what you want about the man, but he is the king of accidentally iconic lines. 'Estoy agotado. Exijo respeto. No confundan mi frustración con falta de respeto': Justin Bieber pide a la prensa que deje de seguirlo tras salir del Soho House en Malibú, California. Justin Bieber's real business includes being a dad, obviously While the internet spiralled, Justin stayed booked and busy. He and wife Hailey have been thriving in their business ventures, like her rocking a custom leather jacket for his clothing label SKYLRK. Plus, the couple's cosy January Aspen trip and parent life with baby Jack prove Bieber's standing on actual business too. So next time you see Justin in public? Maybe let the man walk in peace. He is a real dad. A real husband. And clearly, a real meme machine.
