Guess who was surprised that Amaya "Papaya" Espinal showed up to her Popsugar cover shoot with a strong opinion about what she should wear? Absolutely no one. If you watched her season of "Love Island USA," [1] then you know our Feel-Good Person of the Year [2] is certainly not afraid to express herself, and is strongly dedicated to doing so.
[Espinal] balances both her power and influence artfully, and the clothes are merely a vehicle to drive the point home.
Espinal effortlessly brought every look to life, working with makeup artist Thynna Wagenblast [3] and stylist Jason Rembert [4] (who dressed her in blush pink for the season seven reunion [5]) with market pulled from our own style team including Jessica Andrews [6], Naomi Parris [7], and myself [8]. Espinal plucked two Lapointe gowns from the rack that she fell in love with immediately, as well as a tweed Chanel cutout mini that fell right in line with her exuberant personality. But it's not just about knowing her personal style; it's the way she slipped into character for every pose (which she told us all she'd been practicing, nay, perfecting in front of the mirror in anticipation for shoot day).
Successfully carrying out a different vision for each look, Espinal shows that she has a firm grasp on who she is, and she's not afraid to take control. She balances both her power and influence artfully, and the clothes are merely a vehicle to drive the point home. From the playful, don't-mess-with-me vibes she displayed in vintage pink Chanel with peach blush and eyeshadow to the regal nature she emitted in Lapointe's luxurious satin and feathers, Espinal used her wardrobe to skillfully showcase every side of herself.
Of course, we know these photos spark major closet envy so we broke down her outfits for you ahead, and offered budget-friendly options for every article of clothing she wore.
On set, Espinal and Rembert eyed this Chanel Coco Beach tweed minidress right away. The scoop-neck design hails from the iconic French fashion house's 2022 collection and speaks to Espinal's capital-F-fashion sense. Espinal gravitates toward cutouts, a high hemline, and color that packs a punch — and this design, sourced from luxury peer rental service Tulerie [9], achieves all that and more. Accessorized with Maile Iris Patent White Pumps [10] ($440) as well as her own delicate jewelry, including a Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Pendant [11] ($1,790), stud earrings, and stacking rings, the dress complemented her glossy-pink lip and peach-toned eyeshadow perfectly.
Get the look: Cider Tweed Scoop Neckline Flower Button Mini Dress [12] ($38, originally $48). Superdown Nanea Strapless Dress [13] ($78). En Saison Beckett Tweed Mini Dress [14] ($109, originally $128). Lovers and Friends Llily Tweed Mini Dress [15] ($200). Sandro Cutout Metallic Checked Tweed Mini Dress [16] ($223, originally $445). By Anthropologie Tiny Clover Chain Necklace [17] ($44) Free People Teeny Tiny Mega Stud Earring Set [18] ($25). RkGlitter Dainty Clover Ring [19] ($21, originally $25). Brow Code Imitations Micro Brow Pencil in Brunette [20] ($28). Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Matte Buildable Coverage Waterproof Concealer [21] ($31). Dior Backstage Glow Maximizer Face Palette [22] ($54).
This mocha Lapointe dress [23] ($2,350) is made with the brand's signature lightweight stretch jersey from the pre-fall 2025 collection. But it was the feathers that instantly caught Espinal's eye as they feel chic and glamorous, not gimmicky. Here, makeup artist Wagenblast went with a slightly darker, more sophisticated lip and pressed a glittery sheen onto a pink monochromatic eyeshadow base. And Rembert completed the look with Paris Texas Lidia Slingback Pumps [24] ($695).
Get the look: Missguided Cowl Neck Halter Maxi Dress With Tie Back [25] ($29). Princess Polly Raleina Halter Cowl Neck Maxi Dress Brown Floral [26] ($99). LPA Estelle Maxi Dress [27] ($185, originally $268). Lapointe Lightweight Jersey Deep Cowl Neck Gown [28] ($680, originally 850). Glamnetic Candy Corn Press-On Nails [29] ($18). BClawed Church Punch [30] ($24). Shades by Shan The Mascara [31] ($14, originally 24). Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel 90 [32] ($18). Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Glitter Eyeshadow Glitter Rock [33] ($25).
For the grand finale of Espinal's shoot and the cover look, it should come as no surprise that she leaned into a statement gown. Swathed in satin and feathers wearing Lapointe's Satin Tab Gown [34] ($2,450) in dark teal, she showed a stripped-back side of herself that evoked a sense of vulnerability and power at the same time. Rembert added matching Jimmy Choo sandals and a Le Vian Couture opal ring [35] ($13,048) to accessorize and Wagenblast opted for a sleek, sculpted matte eye teamed with glowing skin and defined liner.
You could call this gown a glamorous version of the green muumuu she wore [36] in episode 28, which she picked up in Portugal. "Bringing that piece back to the villa reminded me of my travels and reminded me of the good days whenever I was having a bad one," she said in an interview with the Today show [37]. "It was more than a dress for sure — it really made me feel grounded." In our opinion, this was Espinal's editorialized moment of grounding, and in this gown, her inimitable glow shines through.
Get the look: Asos Design Curve Kimono Sleeves Cape Detail Draped Midaxi Dress [38] ($85). Coast Feather Trim Satin Maxi Dress [39] ($129, originally $258). Club L London Adella Light Green Satin Feather-Trim Maxi Dress [40] ($225). Bronx and Banco Geisha V-neck Gown [41] ($1,100). Lapointe Satin Tab Gown in Slate [42] ($1,750). Ana Luisa Guilia Medium Hoop Earrings [43] ($65). Jenny Bird Medium Staple Hoops [44] ($108). MissHeel Soft Padded Metallic Lace Up High Heel Sandals [45] ($40). Jeffrey Campbell Obsessed Satin Strappy Ankle Wrap Dress Sandals [46] ($40, originally $160). Paulie Designs Jewelry Coffin Black Fire Opal Engagement Ring [47] ($81, originally $108). MyBlackOpal Copper Ring With Australian Opal [48] ($167). Shades by Shan The Liquid Blush in Glowing Guava [49] ($22). Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Long-Lasting Lip Liner in Dimensional Brown [50] ($25). Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Blush Duo in She's Blushing [51] ($38). Patrick Ta Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette [52] ($70).
Sarah Wasilak [53] (she/her) is the PS Shopping Director. With plenty of experience in the fashion industry and over 11 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing and creating social videos across the lifestyle, health, and fitness categories. She is the host of the "Dinner for Shoes" podcast and has bylines at InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit.