Amaya Espinal: From Nurse to Love Island USA Winner | #Bilfpod with Amaya Papaya

BILFPOD

Amaya Espinal joins the BILF Pod to discuss her transition from a cardiac nurse to winning Love Island USA, detailing how personal loss and a

Key takeaways

• Amaya Espinal worked as a cardiac nurse for four to five years before transitioning to reality TV following the passing of her ex-boyfriend.
• She entered Love Island USA as an unannounced bombshell, initially preferring to be an OG but quickly embracing the role with confidence.

Main topics

• Transition from nursing to reality TV
• Love Island USA experience as a bombshell

Notable quotes

I didn't always have my voice. But once I found my voice, I promised myself to never lose that voice again.

Conclusion

Espinal's journey underscores the power of self-belief and authenticit

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:01) The winners of Love Island USA. Speaker 2 (0:06) No one picked me on the first day. How did that feel? It was a time where I was ready for a change. That was actually during the time where my ex-boyfriend has passed away. I Speaker 1 (0:17) don't think you're going to say anything mean. What about Huda and her music career? Are you guys still friends or it's just kind of like... Speaker 1 (0:26) What was that experience like from going from your everyday life to now you're being recorded every single day? What did that feel like for you? I Speaker 2 (0:34) think that's the beauty of Love Iden, like seeing authenticity and, you know, just people being themselves. You Speaker 1 (0:40) were a cardiac nurse, is that correct? Speaker 2 (0:42) Yes, a registered nurse for about four to five years. Sometimes I have to pinch myself and be like, wait, am I in a dream? I am pretty much of an open book, but I do have a secret to tell you. Speaker 1 (0:52) Ooh, are you going to reveal it? I Speaker 2 (0:54) didn't always have my voice. But once I found my voice, I promised myself to never lose that voice again. Speaker 1 (1:00) Welcome back to the BILF pod where authenticity trumps authority. My name is Mara Dorn and here on the BILF pod, we love to highlight women in the boardroom. We love to highlight icons, founders, reality show stars. Miss Amaya, welcome to the BILF pod, girl. Woo! Hey, we are here. I'm so excited. I'm so excited to have you. So I know just a little bit about, you know, I stalked Speaker 2 (1:24) you Speaker 1 (1:24) a little bit. So I do know that prior to reality TV, you were a cardiac nurse. Is that correct? Speaker 2 (1:30) Yes, a registered nurse for about four to five years. Wow. Yeah. So what made you want to go into nursing? So I would say that my whole life growing up, people, close friends, family, always tell me I'm very caring. And when the decision came, I was like, you know what, let me go for nursing because I feel like it was also a rewarding job. And yeah, we decided to go for nursing and it was a decision that I don't regret. I took care of so many patients throughout the world and the stories that they would share with me. And it was always a good feeling leaving the hospital feeling good, you know, like I did something. Speaker 1 (2:10) So, okay. So you're a nurse, you're doing your thing, you're working like, you know, your shifts and those shifts are insane. So how did you go from being a nurse to reality TV? Speaker 2 (2:22) Yeah, that's a really, really good question. So as I said before, I was working for being a nurse four to five years. And it was a time where I was ready for a change. That was actually during the time where my ex-boyfriend has passed away. And it was about five months, well, four to five months. And I was ready to feel something different, you know, like a new chapter. I was fully healed from the passing. And when the opportunity came, I was actually scrolling through my DMs and cruised out with my mom for her birthday. And I seen it and I'm like, you know what? Why not? Yeah. I don't want to ever live my life with any type of regrets. And that was the first time where I didn't let any type of fear or thoughts in my head stop me from making a decision. Speaker 1 (3:17) And it felt good. It felt good. So then you go ahead, you apply. And then how quickly did you find out that you're going to be on this incredible show? Speaker 2 (3:25) The whole process happened pretty fast. I feel like it happened in the blink of an eye. But I would say in a time span of... Three to four weeks, so like about a month. Speaker 1 (3:38) So pretty quick. Yeah, pretty quick. Speaker 2 (3:39) Wow. Speaker 1 (3:40) And then you came in as a bombshell. I Speaker 2 (3:42) came in as a bombshell. I didn't know I was going to come in as a bombshell. So they Speaker 1 (3:45) don't give you much background on what you're going to be doing. Speaker 2 (3:48) So the thing is, at first I thought I was going to be an OG. I was kind of like crossing my fingers and hoping that I was going to come in as an OG because being a bombshell, you know, it takes a, like, you know, it takes a, not a lot, but. I just wanted to be an OG at first. So when the producers told me I was going to be a bombshell, I was like, okay, you know what? Girl, now you're going to be a bombshell. You have to walk in and you're a bombshell. You got to own it. Speaker 1 (4:15) Yes. Oh, wow. So were you a little intimidated doing that or you were just like, forget it. Now, were you a Maya when you did it or did you have an alter ego? Speaker 2 (4:24) I would say that I was a little intimidated at first, but... I love to self-reflect a lot. And I'm like, instead of feeling intimidated, I'm going to make this feel empowering. And maybe an alter ego did come with that, you know? Sure. Sometimes you got to do Speaker 1 (4:40) what you got to do. You know, you got to put on that. Like, I have an alter ego, Marla. And when Marla comes out, she is fierce. Like, no, yeah, no, I don't care. I'm going with it. I'm moving forward. So maybe that's Speaker 2 (4:51) what happened for you. Yeah, I feel like... The Amaya papaya came out. There Speaker 1 (4:55) you go. I love that. And what are all your fans call papayas, right? Speaker 2 (4:58) Yes, my papayas. So Speaker 1 (5:02) you go on this as a bombshell, right? A little intimidated, but still you go in, you own it. And then what happens? Speaker 2 (5:08) You know, confidence just started radiating from then and now. And it was a beautiful, wonderful experience, one of a kind. And yeah, I feel like throughout the whole villa, it was a journey of not only finding love, finding love within self too, you know? So I'm Speaker 1 (5:27) sure I'm sure just being on there, just from what I've heard, Nick was on the show and Andrea. So they all said, like, you're kind of there. You know, you have no contact with anybody else. So really, all you can do is reflect. Speaker 2 (5:38) Yes, yes, yes. That is actually a really, really true statement. I feel like it showed it shows you a lot about yourself in the best possible ways. Speaker 1 (5:49) Now, had you ever done reality show like a reality show or done anything like this prior? No, Speaker 2 (5:54) that was. The first time. That was the first time. Were you big Speaker 1 (5:57) on social media prior? Like, did you have your own brand thing going on prior to coming onto the show? Speaker 2 (6:02) So I was present on social media, but not in the measures of now. I was just, you know, posting. I did have a following, but yeah, I would have never imagined. Speaker 2 (6:18) a million years I Speaker 1 (6:20) would have like this, you know. Everything happens for a reason, though. You know, as long as you're using it to propel yourself forward and using it for the right reasons. How did your, now I always wonder, because like my daughter's not that far from your age. How did your parents feel about you going on reality TV? Speaker 2 (6:34) I would have to say that they were extremely supportive. They were extremely supportive when I came to them with the decision and what I was about to do. They were really, by my side. My father was the one to drop me off to the airport before I left to Fiji. And having their support was everything, I would have to say. Because, you know, making a decision like that, flying out to Fiji for three months, you could get in your head at times. But having support and trusting in yourself, trusting, believing the process is all that matters. Speaker 1 (7:11) Now, did you know what you were walking into? Like, did you have any, like, What was that like? I'm going on reality TV. Okay, it's reality TV. But I feel like you don't process it until you're actually there. And then even after that, because you're not watching yourself until it finally comes out. So what was that experience like from going from your everyday life to now you're being recorded every single day, everything that you do? What did that feel like for you? Speaker 2 (7:36) I would have to say, to be honest, After a couple days of being in the villa, I totally forgot about the cameras. The cameras are, they're like security cameras in a way, like so small, you know? And I feel like that was the beauty of it too, just kind of being in our own world, in our own space. But yeah, the only time we will ever see the big cameras is if we were going on dates or the challenges. And that's when we're like, wait, hold on, we are filming a TV show. But I think that's the beauty of love. I didn't like seeing often Sicily and, you know, just people being themselves. Speaker 1 (8:12) Do you think that you were really your authentic self when you were on there the whole time? I would say I would say so. Yes. Do you think how did social media perceive you? Were they like in love with you right away or how did that work out for you? Speaker 2 (8:25) I feel like social media always have like. the two sides of it, you know. There's going to be people who love you and there's going to be people who probably don't vibe with you, but that's just life overall. However, I would say I'm really extremely grateful to have the support that I have and to have my papayas. That's what I call my family, you know. So yeah, it felt really, really good to see myself and to see that other people see themselves like. with me or see a part of that. Being awkward sometimes, being a little, saying, you know, just whimsical or having those low moments that you speak self-positivity back into yourself. Yeah. So, yeah. Speaker 1 (9:10) I'm sure that's really hard too, like you're there, you have no contact with the outside world and then there is a lot of time for self-reflection. Is there anything that you think you would change about the experience that you had there? Speaker 2 (9:21) No. I know because I would say that I don't live life with any regrets. I feel like you have to move forward no matter what. And everything is, it's happened for a reason. And what's meant to be is meant to be. So I wouldn't have change of anything going back. But you know what? Maybe just be a little more kinder to myself and not too hard. Speaker 1 (9:45) Yeah, having grace. Yeah, having grace. But Speaker 2 (9:48) there's always room for improvement. And there's always... For me to don't for next time. How Speaker 1 (9:52) did you take, look, with fame comes critics, no matter what, you know? How did you take people and their criticism and their story that they made up about you? Speaker 2 (10:03) Yeah, I would say. I would say I don't really care too much about what other people have to say, but I hate being misunderstood. Speaker 1 (10:13) Fair. You know? Speaker 2 (10:13) Like, I hate when I feel misunderstood or what I'm saying is not coming off, like, the right way. And with that being said, it's just knowing yourself. You know, some days I do be like, damn, like, no, that's not what I mean. Or, no, like. Can we be cool? Can we be friends? Why like, oh, love. But at the end of the day, it all starts within yourself. And I know who I am. I know my intentions and I know my heart. And that's all that matters. And that goes for everyone. Yeah, you're right. Speaker 1 (10:46) You're absolutely right when it comes down. If you can love yourself and you're so young, like I didn't learn this until much later on in life, but if you do love yourself and you know that your intention is pure and you know that you're doing the right thing or at least that's what you intentionally want to do, then it really doesn't matter what people say. But a lot of times it is hurtful. What do you think the biggest misconception about you that's flowing out