Love Island USA Winners Amaya and Bryan Reveal Shocking Breakup Details

The first-ever Latino couple to win the reality show split shortly after their victory.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:00am

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An abstract close-up photograph of shattered glass shards reflecting a warm, golden light, conveying the emotional fragility and broken dreams of a reality TV couple's relationship.The glittering aftermath of a Love Island romance that couldn't survive the real world.Today in Miami

Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, the winners of Love Island USA Season 7, have opened up about the real reasons behind their sudden breakup just over a month after leaving the villa. In the premiere of the spin-off series Love Island: Beyond the Villa, both contestants shared their sides of the story, with Amaya accusing Bryan of cowardly behavior and a lack of commitment. Meanwhile, fellow finalists Iris Kendall and Pepe Garcia also revealed the cause of their split was Pepe's alleged cheating scandal.

Why it matters

The breakups of the Season 7 winning couples have surprised many fans, who were rooting for Amaya and Bryan as well as Iris and Pepe to make it work outside the villa. These revelations provide insight into the challenges faced by reality TV couples as they transition to the real world, and highlight the importance of compatibility, communication, and trust in maintaining a healthy relationship.

The details

According to Amaya, the issues in her relationship with Bryan began when he canceled plans to meet her family due to a supposed stomach ache, only to then be spotted out partying with friends. Bryan admitted to going out with his friends in Miami, but also said the couple had gotten into a 'extremely bad argument' the day before, during which he expressed that they were both unhappy. Amaya claimed that Bryan ultimately broke up with her via text message, shortly after they had been intimate for the first time. As for Iris and Pepe, Iris said she ended their relationship due to cheating allegations against Pepe that surfaced after the reunion.

  • In August 2025, Amaya released a statement confirming her split from Bryan, just over a month after they won Love Island USA Season 7.
  • The first two episodes of Love Island: Beyond the Villa Season 2, which feature Amaya and Bryan's breakup revelations, are currently streaming on Peacock.

The players

Amaya Espinal

The female half of the first-ever Latino couple to win Love Island USA, Season 7.

Bryan Arenales

The male half of the first-ever Latino couple to win Love Island USA, Season 7.

Iris Kendall

A finalist from Love Island USA, Season 7, who also broke up with her villa partner Pepe Garcia.

Pepe Garcia

A finalist from Love Island USA, Season 7, whose alleged cheating scandal led to his breakup with Iris Kendall.

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What they’re saying

“'[It was my] first time being intimate with him — he knows how serious I take that and that I'm not an easy girl — and then, boom, he breaks up with me through a text message. To me, that's coward behavior.'”

— Amaya Espinal

“'The reason why it didn't work out was because I was getting messages from girls telling me horrible things about Pepe. After the reunion, Pepe's cheating scandal happened. I'm not OK with that. I'm not OK with Pepe lying.'”

— Iris Kendall

What’s next

Fans will have to tune in to future episodes of Love Island: Beyond the Villa to see if Amaya and Bryan, or Iris and Pepe, are able to reconcile or move on to new relationships.

The takeaway

The breakups of the Season 7 winning couples on Love Island USA highlight the challenges reality TV stars face in transitioning their villa romances to the real world, where issues like compatibility, communication, and trust can make or break a relationship.