Reality star Amaya Papaya’s unique language has made fans and commenters crazy. Find out why

The Queen of Unique Phrases in Fiji Wins Hearts

Love Island USA season 7 has found an unexpected star – 25-year-old Amaya Espinal.

She is winning the hearts of viewers and crew alike, not with strategic gameplay or dramatic showdowns, but with her totally unique way of talking.

From “Amaya Espinal” to “Amaya Papaya”

Fans have lovingly given her the nickname “Amaya Papaya”, which perfectly fits her colorful personality and witty style of speaking.

When she says phrases and pronunciations that no one has ever heard, her confidence has made her an internet sensation.

Narrator’s Dilemma

Iain Stirling, the Scottish comedian who narrates both the UK and USA versions, was initially confused about how to handle Amaya’s unique expressions.

“In the beginning, we were making jokes about how she gets the words wrong,” Stirling told PEOPLE. “Then we thought, ‘Hmm, I don’t know if that’s going to be right or not.'”

He quickly realized that if he started doing that, “every joke, every time” would be about her throughout the season.

Speaking with the chest

What impresses Stirling the most about Amaya is her unwavering confidence.

“I like that she simply ignores sentence structure and letters. I think it’s amazing,” he shared.

“Her confidence is so amazing and what I like is that she rarely says a word wrong and [doesn’t question it].

No, she just says it and continues as if everyone else has been saying the wrong thing for years.”

As Stirling perfectly summed it up: “She speaks with the chest.”

Host Ariana Has Special Feelings

Host Ariana Madix also has a soft corner for Amaya. When asked about the moments in which her impartiality was challenged, Madix immediately mentioned when two guys—Zak Srakaew and JD Dodard—took a stand for Amaya after Casa Amor.

“I tried to keep a straight face when I asked Amaya how she felt about the recoupling,” Madix admitted, “but it was challenging because I was actually very happy for her.”

A Different Kind of Reality Star

What makes Amaya special is that she is completely authentic.

In a show where strategic gameplay and manufactured drama often take center stage, her unfiltered personality and creative vocabulary have made her a unique star.

Whether she’s twisting common phrases or inventing entirely new ones, Amaya delivers everything with such conviction that you almost believe her version might be the correct one.

Watch new episodes of Love Island USA daily (except Wednesdays) at 9 pm ET on Peacock to find out what Amaya has to say next!