Long before she was "Amaya Papaya" to millions of Love Island USA fans, Amaya Espinal was just a girl frequenting the Dominican Republic, sipping papaya smoothies and getting teased by her grandma with the nickname that would later define her villa era. Now, as the new season heats up the screen, Espinal is reflecting on her own time in Fiji and sharing advice for reality TV newbies. She's also channeling her island roots into her latest project: a partnership with Herbal Essences on the brand's new Papaya + Citrus Strength collection, available now.
Here, Espinal talks villa nostalgia, her go-to in-office skin treatment and what's next for her beyond the beach.
Now that Love Island is back on TV, what has it been like watching the current Islanders? Does it bring back memories of your own experience in the villa?
“Watching this new season definitely brings me back to Fiji times. I remember how intense the emotions can be, especially while you're there and filming. Seeing the Islanders in their little spots, I'm like, ‘Oh, wait, that used to be my spot too.’”
What advice would you give to someone going on reality TV for the first time?
“I definitely would just say to know who you are, stay true to yourself, especially being in such a spotlight and exposure. There are so many different opinions; it's easy to get lost and forget who you are in a sense, so just always remember who you are, and don't let the world or outsiders change you.”
Are there any other reality shows you would go on? Survivor or The Great British Bake Off?
“Survivor, I think I would pass away on there, but I definitely see myself doing Traitors.”
What beauty products or routines did you cling to the most while you were in the house?
“Since we're always on camera, you know, the girls love to be in the makeup room, but I definitely would say I made sure that my face was hydrated, especially being out in the sun all day. I also made sure my hair was hydrated and nourished because the Fiji sun does not play, so we need some Herbal Essences over there for those Islanders.”
What are the go-to in-office beauty treatments that you swear by?
“I usually like to do microneedling for my face, not all the time, but once in a while to rejuvenate the skin.”
You recently revealed you got veneers. Are there any other cosmetic procedures you’re interested in?
“As of right now, I'm okay, but we'll see. I'm always open.”
How did working with Herbal Essences on the Papaya + Citrus Strength collection come about, and what made this a great partnership for you?
“Basically, I've been working with Herbal Essences for a year now, and with this collaboration, we decided to go deeper and to be grounded in my roots, so with the whole papaya citrus scent, it basically just ties back to me being from the Dominican Republic, and whenever I think about my island, I think about the tropics and vacation. So, yeah, this is a full-circle moment for me.”
What was most important to you when creating the scent and overall experience of this collection?
“I guess just how I felt the moment that I smelled the scent. I wanted to make sure it resonated with me and was everything I imagined, which it is. We brought the vision to life, and I can't wait for everyone to have their hair smelling good and also feeling good.”
Were you always called Amaya Papaya, or did that start during the show?
“So growing up, I loved drinking papaya smoothies. A papaya smoothie is a very popular smoothie in the DR. My grandma would nickname me here and there, but when I went on the show, Austin was one of the first people to call me Amaya Papaya, and I was like, ‘Wait, my grandma calls me that all the time,’ and it started from there.”
Where can Love Island and Beyond the Villa fans see you next?
“I just want to keep on working with partnerships like this that resonate with me and align with my values, and I am going to keep on just exploring and having fun with my life and my music. I have music coming out soon, so yeah, we'll see where life takes us.”
