Olandria Carthen, Nicolas “Nic” Vansteenberghe, Amaya Espinal, and Bryan Arenales.Peacock (4)

After a summer full of ups and downs, Love Island USA finally crowned the season 7 winner — but which couple scored the most votes?

During the Sunday, July 13, season finale of the hit Peacock dating show, host Ariana Madix announced that Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales got the most votes from the public and were splitting the $100,000 prize.

Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen placed second, Chris Seeley and Huda Mustafa came third and Iris Kendall and Pepe Garcia placed fourth.

Sunday’s conclusion comes after a hectic season. In addition to the drama on screen as the Islanders found their match, there were some surprising challenges off screen. Two episodes into the season, Yulissa Escobar exited after clips of her using inappropriate language on a podcast circulated online.

Yulissa wasn’t the only Islander to find themselves gone from the villa before the season came to an end. Cierra Ortega faced backlash when a resurfaced social media post showed her using offensive language as well.

Both Yulissa and Cierra apologized amid their respective controversies. Meanwhile in the villa, each Islander tested different connections, which left America divided on who they were rooting for ahead of the finale.

Luckily, Us Weekly caught up with some of the dumped Love Island USA Islanders to get their hot takes on who they saw winning — and the majority showed support for Ace and Chelley, who left before the last episode.

“I will say Ace and Chelley, because the other couples are a little new and we don’t know. It’s not enough time to tell if it’s actually a genuine connection and if they actually have potential to be a couple outside of the villa,” Andreina Santos-Marte told Us. “I think the winner should be a couple that has shown that they have feelings that they grew from this point to that point that they put a lot of effort into making it until the end. And I think, from the couples that are there, they’re that couple.”

Bryan and Amaya were a close second.

“I think that Amaya and Bryan are gonna win, to be honest,” TJ Palma shared. “But looking at it as a connection [and who has] been through a lot and the longest — it’s Ace and Chelley. I don’t think they’re gonna win, but I feel they’ve been through a lot. They’ve been on and off since the beginning, and that just makes the most sense to me. But I do think Amaya and Bryan are gonna win. I support all of the couples, but I think Amaya and Bryan will probably take it home.”

Love Island USA is currently streaming on Peacock.

It was a summer of sun, scandal, and steamy romance—exactly what fans have come to expect from “Love Island USA.” But even by the show’s own high standards for drama, Season 7 was a rollercoaster ride like no other. From the very first episode, viewers were glued to their screens, watching as a new batch of Islanders entered the villa with hopes of finding love—and maybe, just maybe, walking away $100,000 richer. But as the weeks wore on, it became clear that this season would be remembered for more than just its love triangles and late-night flirtations.

On Sunday night, July 13, the curtain finally fell on Peacock’s latest installment of the hit dating show, and America had its answer: Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales were crowned the winners, capturing the hearts—and votes—of the public. Their victory was announced in a glittering finale by host Ariana Madix, who beamed as she revealed the couple would be splitting the coveted cash prize. For Amaya and Bryan, it was the fairy-tale ending every Islander dreams of, but for the rest of the cast—and the millions watching at home—it was the climax of a season packed with twists, turns, and more than a few jaw-dropping moments.

Second place went to Nicolas “Nic” Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen, who had their own passionate following, while Chris Seeley and Huda Mustafa finished third, and Iris Kendall and Pepe Garcia rounded out the finalists in fourth. But in a season where the competition was fierce and the alliances ever-shifting, the real story was what happened both on and off camera.

The drama wasn’t confined to the villa’s fire pit or the infamous recoupling ceremonies. Early in the season, just two episodes in, the show was rocked by controversy when Yulissa Escobar abruptly exited after old podcast clips surfaced online, revealing her use of inappropriate language. The fallout was swift and intense, with social media ablaze and Peacock moving quickly to address the situation. Yulissa wasn’t the only Islander to find herself at the center of a storm: Cierra Ortega also faced backlash when a resurfaced social media post showed her using offensive language, leading to her own departure. Both women issued public apologies, but the damage was done, and the mood in the villa shifted as the Islanders processed the news.

Yet, as is often the case with “Love Island,” the show went on. The remaining contestants continued their search for connection, navigating the usual minefield of attraction, jealousy, and heartbreak. For the viewers, it was a reminder that reality TV is just that—real people, real mistakes, and real consequences. But it also underscored the resilience of the Islanders, who managed to keep their eyes on the prize even as the outside world intruded on their sun-soaked paradise.

Inside the villa, the competition heated up as the days ticked down. Each Islander tested different connections, and America found itself divided over which couple deserved to win. Fans debated endlessly online, dissecting every conversation, every kiss, every tearful confession. Was it the slow-burning romance of Nic and Olandria that would win the day, or the undeniable chemistry between Chris and Huda? Or would the underdogs, Iris and Pepe, pull off a surprise victory?

But as the finale approached, it was clear that two couples had captured the public’s imagination: Amaya and Bryan, who had weathered their share of ups and downs, and Ace and Chelley, who’d left the villa before the final episode but still commanded a loyal following. In a twist that only “Love Island” could deliver, many of the dumped Islanders told Us Weekly they were rooting for Ace and Chelley, even though their journey had ended early. Andreina Santos-Marte summed it up best: “I think the winner should be a couple that has shown that they have feelings that they grew from this point to that point, that they put a lot of effort into making it until the end. And I think, from the couples that are there, they’re that couple.”

For all their support, though, it was Amaya and Bryan who emerged as the people’s champions. TJ Palma, another recently departed Islander, predicted their win, saying, “I think Amaya and Bryan are gonna win, to be honest… I support all of the couples, but I think Amaya and Bryan will probably take it home.” His words proved prophetic, as the couple’s journey from tentative flirtation to genuine partnership resonated with viewers across the country.

The road to victory was anything but smooth for Amaya and Bryan. Like many “Love Island” couples before them, they faced their share of challenges—misunderstandings, rivalries, and the constant pressure of living under the watchful eyes of both their fellow Islanders and millions of fans. But through it all, they remained true to each other, building a bond that, by the season’s end, felt as real as any romantic story the show has produced.

Their win was met with cheers—and a few tears—from fans who had watched their relationship blossom. Social media lit up with congratulations, memes, and the inevitable speculation about what the future holds for the couple now that the cameras have stopped rolling. Will Amaya and Bryan go the distance? Only time will tell, but for now, they’re basking in the glow of victory—and a hefty $100,000 prize.

As the credits rolled on another unforgettable season, viewers were left to reflect on what makes “Love Island USA” such a phenomenon. Is it the promise of romance, the thrill of competition, or the tantalizing possibility that anyone—no matter how unlikely—can find connection and fortune under the villa’s blazing lights? Maybe it’s all of the above. What’s certain is that, for all its controversies and curveballs, the show remains a cultural touchstone, a place where ordinary people become overnight celebrities and fleeting summer flings sometimes turn into something more.

For the Islanders who didn’t make it to the end, there’s always next year—or at least the promise of a few more followers and maybe a sponsorship deal or two. For the fans, there’s the anticipation of another season, another cast, and another chance to fall in love with the drama all over again.

But for Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, this summer will always be the one that changed everything. Against the odds, through all the chaos and controversy, they found each other—and, for a moment at least, they found happiness. In the world of “Love Island,” that’s the greatest prize of all.

“Love Island USA” is currently streaming on Peacock, where fans can relive every twist, every tear, and every triumph of a season that proved, once again, that connection—and drama—always finds a way.