It was not happily ever after for \u201cLove Island USA\u201d Season 7 winners Amaya Espinal<\/a> and Bryan Arenales after all.<\/p>\n The pair was voted as America’s favorite, emerging victorious<\/a> and receiving the $100,000 cash prize. They then left the villa as a couple, with fans hoping they’d make it in the real world.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, over a month after the Season 7 finale and two days after the reunion<\/a> special aired, Amaya and Bryan confirmed that they had broken up.<\/a><\/p>\n All seemed well with the winning couple, who, in an interview with TODAY.com soon after the finale<\/a>, emphasized their relationship’s authenticity.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I\u2019m so happy to be here with her. Trust me, it\u2019s real,\u201d Bryan said at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m also a bad actress and a bad liar \u2014 I think people would be able to catch on quickly,\u201d Amaya chimed in. \u201cI\u2019m like, I need Botox after this, he makes me smile this much.\u201d<\/p>\n However, breakup rumors circulated and reached a fever pitch ahead of the \u201cLove Island USA\u201d Season 7 Reunion.<\/p>\n Both Amaya and Bryan unfollowed each other on Instagram, adding fuel to split speculation that first surfaced earlier this summer.<\/p>\n The rumors began swirling when Bryan was allegedly spotted with another woman at a nightclub just days after the couple left the villa together.<\/p>\n At the time, the pair seemed to shut down the chatter with a romantic TikTok posted to Bryan\u2019s account<\/a>. \u201cWhen everyone thinks you\u2019re over meanwhile this is us,\u201d read the caption, accompanying footage of the couple gazing into each other\u2019s eyes before Amaya leaped into Bryan\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n Bryan addressed the rumors during the reunion special. Here’s what to know.<\/p>\n Amaya\u2019s journey to find love in Fiji was far from straightforward.<\/p>\n Entering the villa as a bombshell on Episode 4 alongside Hannah Fields<\/a>, Amaya originally coupled up with Ace Greene<\/a>.<\/p>\n While there seemed to be a spark between the pair at first, Ace quickly switched up on Amaya, citing her usage of nicknames (particularly \u201cbabe\u201d) and physical touch as too much, too soon.<\/p>\n From there, Amaya found more connections and obstacles. She coupled up with Austin Shepard on Episode 14, but he, like Ace, began to distance himself from Amaya.<\/p>\n The couple split up when Casa Amor happened on Episode 19, leaving them both single and open to exploring new connections.<\/p>\n Bryan came into the show as a bombshell in Casa Amor, the biggest relationship test of every \u201cLove Island\u201d season. This is where either the men or the women from the main villa are secretly whisked away to a second villa nearby, where they get to meet a group of other singles hoping to find love in Fiji.<\/p>\n In Casa Amor, Bryan quickly hit it off with Andreina. Amaya, meanwhile, was striking up a connection with Zak Srakaew, who also came into the show during Casa Amor. They ultimately coupled up and remained a couple as they went back to the main villa.<\/p>\n However, Zak blindsided Amaya during the \u201cStand on Business\u201d challenge and gang up on her alongside Austin and Ace, which led to Amaya exploring new connections and hitting it off with Bryan.<\/p>\n During the \u201cStand on Business\u201d challenge in Episode 26, Amaya was confronted by all three men she had previously been coupled up with: Ace, Austin and Zak.<\/p>\n As Amaya stood in front of her peers, she read cards that had been written about her \u2014 specifically about her emotions and how she expressed herself in her relationships.<\/p>\n \u201cYou cry more than needed. You try to move too fast for everyone,\u201d Austin wrote on a card that Amaya had to read in front of the entire villa.<\/p>\n \u201cGod forbid I\u2019m a sensitive gangsta,\u201d Amaya replied (a phrase that became one of her signature one-liners).<\/p>\n \u201cI would just have to say that many people could view this as a weakness, but to me personally, after everything I\u2019ve been through in my life, I view it as a strength,\u201d she continued. \u201cSo if you guys view it like that, then guess what. I\u2019m just not your cup of tea to be drinking, so don\u2019t f—— drink it.\u201d<\/p>\n Austin admitted to writing the card, explaining that after they initially coupled up, \u201cthe intensity of your emotions and feelings and wants just felt like they built way up.\u201d<\/p>\n Ace and Zak decided to join Austin and gang up on Amaya in front of everyone. But what could have been Amaya\u2019s lowest point in the villa actually became a silver lining, as this is where her and Bryan\u2019s story began.<\/p>\n \u201cOne thing I got to add though,\u201d Bryan interjected that night. \u201cComing from a Hispanic household, calling someone \u2018Babe,\u2019 \u2018Mi amor,\u2019 \u2018Mi vida,\u2019 that\u2019s just how we talk. You\u2019re telling her meet you halfway, you got to meet her halfway, too.\u201d<\/p>\n The following day, Amaya and Bryan had a chat and started to get to know one another. Bryan not only understood Amaya, but he loved the way she expressed herself.<\/p>\n The pair coupled up on Episode 30, and America eventually voted to send them to the Season 7 finale. Viewers got to see their final date and declarations of love, the loving speeches all the final couples give to one another right before the winners are announced.<\/p>\n During their first and final date, Amaya expressed her appreciation for Bryan, especially for how he spoke on her behalf during the \u201cStand on Business\u201d challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cBabe, you don\u2019t understand how much it meant, that moment, of you standing up for me in the Stand on Business,\u201d she told him. \u201cYou know, like, if my light is too bright for somebody, wear sunglasses or something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut with you, you looked right into the sun, you know?\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n Bryan \u201cpopped the question,\u201d as Amaya put it in her confessional later in the episode, to continue exclusively dating each other when they left Fiji.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wanted to talk to you and just basically let you know how much I care about you and how much you mean to me here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I love your energy, I love when you get the zoomies … Just making everybody\u2019s day better. Fine as hell … I definitely wanted to leave here letting you know that I want to make stuff exclusive with us and prioritize us. I want to continue taking the right steps with you and attacking the outside world with you.\u201d<\/p>\n No, Amaya and Bryan are not together anymore.<\/p>\n The couple publicly confirmed their exclusive relationship after leaving the villa and during a profile with TODAY.com, which was published on Aug. 20.<\/a> At the time, Amaya said she visited Bryan’s family in Boston.<\/p>\n \u201cI had such a great time, met his mom \u2014 it was just very wholesome,\u201d Amaya said.<\/p>\n But their decision to unfollow each other on Instagram signaled serious trouble in paradise. Adding to the breakup speculation, Amaya reposted a cryptic TikTok video<\/a> the same day fans noticed the social media snub.<\/p>\n The video says, \u201cHow it feels when you know you have to leave him alone,\u201d over pictures of girls crying, alone, or looking forlornly. The caption features a few hashtags, including \u201c#ex,\u201d \u201c#sad,\u201d and \u201c#imissyou.\u201d<\/p>\n On Aug. 27, Amaya confirmed that she and Bryan were \u201cno longer together.\u201d<\/p>\n Amaya confirmed she and Bryan have broken up. (Instagram\/Amaya)<\/p>\n \u201cAfter leaving the villa, it became clear that we were on two different journeys. Our visions didn\u2019t align and relationships are suppose to be a team sport,\u201d she wrote. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to drink the whole sea to know it\u2019s salty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll the love here and I truly wish him the best,\u201d she wrote, signing off, \u201cAmaya Papaya.\u201d<\/p>\n Bryan also posted his own statement on his Instagram story, beginning, \u201cAs many of you already know. Amaya and I have decided to go our separate ways. Unfortunately, we were not on the same page and that is Okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Bryan shares his statement regarding his and Amaya’s break up hours later. (Instagram\/Bryan)<\/p>\n \u201cWe have both gained clarity that we are on different paths right now,\u201d he continued, adding he was \u201cthankful\u201d for the time they spent together \u201cand I wish her nothing but the best moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n During the reunion<\/a>, which was taped on Aug. 12 and aired Aug. 25, Bryan spoke about the cheating allegations.<\/p>\n \u201cI got paid to be there… I had a lapse in judgment. We\u2019ve talked about it,\u201d he said, before clarifying that he was, \u201cPouring shots around, giving the crowd shots and stuff like that.\u201d<\/p>\n At the time, Amaya said, \u201cI\u2019m not a woman that would be with someone who doesn\u2019t respect me,\u201d and appeared to still be a couple.<\/p>\n This article was originally published on TODAY.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat Happened Between Amaya and Bryan on \u2018Love Island USA\u2019?<\/h2>\n
Wait, What Happened During the \u2018Stand on Business\u2019 Challenge?<\/h2>\n
Are Amaya and Bryan Still Together Now?<\/h2>\n
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