Is Love Island USA’s Ace Greene Really 5’10”? Amaya Espinal Says…

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Amaya “Papaya” Espinal is revealing how Ace Greene really measures up.

Indeed, following some uncertainty among fans of “Love Island USA” regarding Ace’s assertion that he stands at 5 feet 10 inches, the season seven victor clarified his co-star’s actual height.

During her interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast on July 16, Amaya mentioned to host Alex Cooper, “I have trouble with heights,” and then clarified, “He is significantly taller than I am.

After considering her options, the petite actress eventually concurred with Alex about Ace’s probable height, which seemed to be approximately 5 feet and 8 inches tall.

Amaya, the co-winner of the $100,000 prize with Bryan Arenales, also disclosed fresh insights about the uproar involving Cierra Ortega. Cierra was expelled from the villa halfway through the season due to a past social media post in which she utilized a derogatory term targeting people of Asian descent.

According to the 25-year-old, we began our day together in the morning. Suddenly, without warning, Cierra vanished from our sight. We found ourselves wondering and questioning where Cierra could possibly be.

Amaya clarified that she, along with the other Islanders, were genuinely unaware as to why Cierra had been unexpectedly taken off set during the filming in Fiji.

He went on to explain that they didn’t have a chance for a farewell, we missed seeing her prepare to leave. It all transpired so swiftly, it was as if it happened in an instant. The whole thing seemed incredibly surreal.

But now that Amaya is fully debriefed on the scandal, she hopes Cierra can learn from her mistakes.

She emphasized the importance of using respectful words and treating everyone with dignity. At the same time, she expressed hope that the person concerned would learn from their actions, as they are an adult, so future occurrences can be avoided.

In a more playful tone, Amaya revealed that the most active couple during Season 7 wasn’t herself and Bryan.

Amaya shared with Alex that Huda (Mustafa) and Jeremiah (Brown) used to be a pair,” Amaya chuckled, adding, “Ha! What a duo!

Continue scrolling to uncover fascinating facts hidden within the world of the popular reality show, Love Island. Don’t forget to catch up with Love Island USA at your convenience on Peacock.

Every day, footage from 85 concealed cameras is abundant, needing to be edited down into a one-hour program.

However, they follow a swift pace, with the editors working on Monday’s captured footage immediately and transforming it into the episode that airs the next day, continuing this pattern.

Fortunately, Fiji, the location for the initial season of the show and where it has been since season five, is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast. This means that a late-night finish translates to the next day’s morning in the U.S., providing the team with valuable additional hours during their timezone to fine-tune the new episode perfectly.

As a dedicated follower, I would share that come morning, real-life events unfold on the island, and these instances serve as inspiration for scenes produced in the control room. In 2024, executive producer Claudine Parrish shared this with The Wrap. The team labels these events, such as “Boys preparing breakfast for the girls,” and within mere minutes of happening, they’re incorporated into our edits. An editor swiftly transforms these happenings into a captivating scene.

A project like this requires collaboration: Parrish mentioned that roughly 30 editors and 20 producers are involved, while a story team decides on the significant moments and dialogues to intertwine and construct a more comprehensive tale.

At times, as Parrish acknowledged, not everything that appears intriguing leads to something substantial. “Sometimes we miss the mark,” she admitted. “We’re constantly evaluating whether something is significant or if it will be different tomorrow.

It’s clear that breakfast plays a significant role on this program, as the gentlemen responsible for cooking meals and coffee for the women on Love Island USA have turned it into a globally intriguing event.

But what does everyone eat for lunch and dinner, you ask?

In this program, while the food itself may not be the main emphasis, it is easily accessible, unless we’re talking about burnt pancakes or someone’s inaugural attempt at an omelette.

Dani Dyer, winner of Love Island UK season four, shared with HELLO! in 2021 that there are no menus on the show. Instead, it’s self-catering, so contestants prepare their own breakfast, which typically includes items like eggs, bacon, and toast.

In a July 2023 TikTok post, contestant Luca Bish from season eight admitted he had no clue who prepared the meals, describing the mysterious chef as “someone out in the field” and stating that the dishes were brought to the villa.

Instead of enjoying the food, Bish often found himself saying that he was eating hummus and crisps for both lunch and dinner.

In my experience, I’ve noticed that during competitions, men and women often dine apart, save for specific date occasions.

As a devoted admirer putting it in my own words, “I get treated like a student at a prestigious boarding school when I dine with the producers on Love Island UK during season three, as shared by Olivia Attwood with The Sun in 2022. It’s like they’re reminding us to tidy our rooms, scheduling laundry days, and asking about our meal preferences for the next day – all to keep the household running efficiently.”

And much like being on a jury, they’re not allowed to discuss the case among themselves.

In 2024, Samuel Agbiji, a season eight contestant, expressed that it was challenging, he said, “It was tough because while you’re dining, you’d naturally want to discuss ongoing matters, but you can’t due to the requirements of the filming process.

It’s possible you could think that having a lot of drinks for flirting purposes is at least tolerated, if not actively supported. However, in this particular situation, each contestant can have just one alcoholic beverage each night, and the options are limited to beer, wine, or champagne.

In a June 2024 TikTok post, Phoebe Siegel from Love Island USA’s fourth season expressed that the selection of either red or white wine at dinner wasn’t “very generous.

During celebrations like a Casa Amor challenge win, where it seems like an open bar is available, Siegel mentioned that the drinks were actually “diluted with lots of water.

Iain Stirling juggles two roles, serving as the storyteller for both “Love Island UK” and “Love Island USA.” During production, he manages his time efficiently.

In the afternoon at 12 U.K. time, as the Scottish comedian shared with TODAY in 2024, I’d tune into Love Island UK. By then, the show was almost over. We’d spend two to three hours writing afterwards, wrapping up around 4 PM or so. Then it was time for my kid’s dinner, bath, and bedtime – a routine that wasn’t as glamorous as I would have liked, but that’s how my life was. After taking care of my child, I’d grab some food and then catch Love Island USA at 8:30 PM, which is quite early in Fiji time.

At home, Stirling watches an early version of the project over Zoom as Parrish, the executive producer, informed The Wrap. Together with the writers, they are simply noting amusing elements within the scene or reminders of past events in the story. These observations are recorded on a microphone at his home.

The story he told was incorporated into the episode prior to its submission for review by Peacock’s legal and standards team, who occasionally make suggestions for last-minute revisions.

30 am – a time when the show is still ongoing in the U.S. He also shared that if he could, he would stay awake until 5 or 6 am, but that would essentially mean he never sleeps.

Demonstrating an enduring connection, Ike Meredith, previously associated with Love Island UK as its host, married Laura Whitmore in the year 2020. Their bond deepened further with the arrival of their baby girl in March 2021.

The music on “Love Island USA” – starting from Janelle Monae’s “Make Me Feel”, moving on to “From Fiji With Love” by The Daniel Pemberton TV Orchestra, and including various pop songs in between – creates a distinctive atmosphere or feeling throughout the show.

When I first watched Love Island UK, I thought it was a significant leap in reality storytelling because of the powerful connection between a popular song and the plot unfolding on TV. This is something that James Barker, executive producer of Love Island USA, mentioned in an interview with Rolling Stone in June 2025. He was so impressed that he wanted to work on the show, expressing his belief that more shows should emulate this unique approach.

In contrast to songs being chosen spontaneously for specific situations, a music clearance company prepares months in advance to secure licenses for popular tunes from artists such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Olivia Rodrigo well before they’re actually required.

We constantly prepare a large number of songs, ranging from hundreds to thousands, as we never know how the story will unfold. For instance, one track might be ideal for someone’s eventual breakup, while another could become the perfect anthem for a first kiss once the moment arises.

Interestingly, the residents on this island find themselves unable to enjoy music within their villa, primarily due to the complications arising from licensing issues. Additionally, playing music might interfere with the recording quality of the concealed cameras and microphones during conversations.

In some situations, not all tunes played live can be categorized as exceptions. For instance, these might include specific competitions, slow-paced dance events, or instances when someone hops into a taxi for a date and the driver has music playing.

To make sure the women always look their best on camera, the production offers makeup and skincare products within the premises. They’re welcome to bring their own as well, but any identifiable brand names on their personal items will be concealed during post-production.

In more intricate grooming situations, experts step in to help. As Love Island UK season five alum Lucie Dolan shared with Capital FM in 2021, “Every two or three weeks we’d have our nails, hair, and such handled.” Since the nights can be quite lengthy while inside, it’s essential to have a relaxing day off to unwind and recharge.

On their days off from work, when there’s no performance scheduled, as Whitmore shared with OK! magazine, they often have their eyelash extensions and acrylic nails re-done.

Previously, island residents had to travel to other places, however, currently, the production of the show cannot allow contestants to be in the wild while filming takes place.

According to Whitmore, it seems that in the initial season, they stepped out of the villa to get their hair styled at a salon. However, due to the grand scale of the show now, they’re unable to do so, so instead, someone comes to them to touch up their roots.

Producers say they’re perfectly content to ride the waves of romance.

In a conversation with The Wrap in 2024, Love Island USA’s executive producer Ben Thursby-Palmer explained their approach to the show’s events as they unfold. If the couples are content, there’s no necessity for recoupling. However, if everyone is sleeping in different parts of the villa, it signals a need for change, and they have to reorganize the couples again.

In a YouTube video posted in April 2023, Samie Elishi from Love Island UK season nine stated that the show wasn’t improvised entirely. However, he clarified that if producers didn’t guide them towards conversations with specific couples or during arguments, the show would not exist. They do encourage certain discussions, but the content of those conversations is entirely up to the participants.

Communication devices like phones are provided to the islanders, enabling them to make calls, send messages, take pictures, and receive notifications about forthcoming events which can then be announced audibly.

In 2019, Liana Isadora Van Riel from Love Island UK season two shared with The Sun that the contestants are given simple phones for texting each other, but they seldom use them. These phones mainly serve the purpose of the ‘I’ve received a text’ drama.

In another scenario, Love Island USA’s Siegel shared on TikTok that “There’s no internet searches, no TV viewing, no social media access, no texting anyone outside the program.

In keeping with the long-standing custom of mediators in reality TV competitions, Ariana Madix, the host of Love Island USA, must feign indifference as she observes the events playing out before her eyes.

In 2024, she shared with The Wrap that it can be challenging for her because there are moments when she feels an urge to participate, but as a host, she must maintain some neutrality, especially when they’re around.

Simultaneously, she intervened during the elimination of Andrea Carmona in season six, and Rob Rausch spontaneously mentioned he’d depart alongside her. However, Madix kindly suggested he think it over again, and in the end, he chose to remain.

Madix pointed out that it might not be wise to make such an important decision during an emotional time. Additionally, there was a part of him that thought about testing if the other person truly intended to leave, since he wasn’t convinced.

Madix pointed out that while filming, there were no cameramen visible to the islanders. Cameras were strategically placed throughout the villa, with movable cameramen hidden behind walls using sliders. The islanders typically didn’t notice the cameramen, and except for obvious areas like bathrooms, there were no blind spots in the house. So, any belief that a secret conversation could be held out of sight was not accurate.

Another private location without cameras: As mentioned by Elishi from Love Island UK, it’s the kitchen pantry where snacks are kept. She shared in her April 2023 video that only one person can be inside at once due to past events involving a couple in the pantry.

Several participants on Love Island UK have mentioned that branded condoms for the show are available throughout the villa and can be restocked whenever needed.

Before the events that could change everything occur, they are given a chance to observe the show to recall the developments thus far.

Chloe Burrows, a contestant from Love Island UK, revealed during an episode of her podcast “Chloe vs. The World” in April 2023, she only misses watching the episode that airs before she joins the show. Once she’s on, she then shares her top three favorite islanders among those already there.

While the cameras never stop filming, the contestants do get one day off a week to just hang out.

This essentially signifies that the same regulations as mealtimes hold true – no talking about gossip or resolving conflicts during that time. Additionally, since they don’t have specific days set aside for dating, male and female participants are not allowed to sleep in the same bed on their off-days.

In 2017, Kem Cetinay from the third season of Love Island UK explained to Britain’s This Morning that when contestants remove their microphones, they are not permitted to discuss anything related to the show. They can engage in conversation, but there is careful monitoring since the producers want to preserve it for viewers at home to watch and record. Essentially, it’s a break from all the intense games, dates, and decisions about who they like and dislike.

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2025-07-16 19:49