What a wild ride it’s been this summer for Love Island USA fans. After weeks of romance, heartbreak, and some serious off-screen drama, the Peacock reality hit finally crowned its Season 7 champions. Viewers across the country had their say, casting votes for their favorite couples.
On Sunday, July 13, host Ariana Madix had the honor of revealing who America picked. The top prize, a cool $100,000, went to Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales. They received the most votes from the public, sealing their win.
The other finalists also made their mark. Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen landed in second place, showing a strong connection. Chris Seeley and Huda Mustafa secured third place, while Iris Kendall and Pepe García finished their journey in fourth.
This season wasn’t just about finding love, though. It also saw its share of controversy, shaking things up outside the villa walls. Early in the season, just two episodes in, Yulissa Escobar left the show. This happened after old video clips surfaced online showing her using offensive language during a podcast.
Yulissa wasn’t the only islander to leave early amid a scandal. Cierra Ortega also faced criticism when an old social media post of hers, containing another hurtful insult, reappeared. Both Yulissa and Cierra later issued apologies for their past remarks as the controversies unfolded. Meanwhile, back in the villa, islanders continued to explore their connections, leaving fans divided on who to root for as the finale approached.
Before the big finale, an entertainment publication, Us Weekly, caught up with some islanders who had already left the show. They wanted to hear predictions on who might take home the grand prize. Interestingly, most of them leaned towards Ace and Chelley, a couple who had left the villa before the final episode.
Andreina Santos-Marte shared her thoughts with Us Weekly, saying, "I’d pick Ace and Chelley. The other couples are pretty new, and we just don’t know much about them. There hasn’t been enough time to see if their connection is real or if they have a future outside the villa." She added, "The winning couple should be one that truly showed feelings, grew from start to finish, and worked hard to get there. Among the remaining couples, I felt they fit that description best."
Bryan and Amaya were the second most popular pick among the former islanders. TJ Palma weighed in, "Honestly, I think Amaya and Bryan will win." But he also acknowledged, "If you look at who has been through the most and lasted the longest, it’s Ace and Chelley. I don’t think they’ll win, but to me, they’ve been through so much. They were on-again, off-again from the start, and that makes the most sense to me. Still, I believe Amaya and Bryan will win. I support all the couples, but I think Amaya and Bryan will probably take home the money."
For those who want to relive the drama or catch up on any missed moments, Love Island USA is available for streaming on Peacock.