“Love Island USA” Winner Amaya Espinal Rushed to Hospital in L.A., Undergoes Emergency Surgery

“Love Island USA” winner Amaya Espinal is on the mend after a sudden medical emergency landed her in the hospital over the weekend.

The 26-year-old reality star was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pain and later underwent emergency surgery, several outlets confirmed. Espinal remains hospitalized in L.A. as doctors continue to monitor her recovery. She is currently in stable condition and is not expected to return to filming until the new year. TMZ first reported the news, noting that Espinal had recently been filming “Beyond the Villa” but was not on set when the medical issue occurred. According to the outlet, the cause of the emergency is still unclear.

On Wednesday, Espinal gave fans a small update by sharing a photo on Instagram of several floral arrangements she received. One note, sent by ITV America, wished her a “speedy recovery.” She had last posted on social media a day earlier, sharing a paid partnership on Tuesday, December 16.

Espinal rose to fame earlier this year after winning “Love Island USA” season 7 alongside then partner Bryan Arenales. The couple took home the top prize in July, with Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen finishing in second place. Espinal later confirmed that she and Arenales split following the season 7 reunion.

In an interview filmed after the finale, host Ariana Madix asked Espinal how she planned to use her $50,000 prize. Espinal revealed her desire to give back, saying, “I wanna give back to a community, that’s one of my biggest passions — [which] he asked [about] early on — is just me leaving a positive impact [on] a group of people who are in need.”

Speaking with PEOPLE in August, Espinal reflected on her post villa life and the support she’s received, sharing that she was “very optimistic and very hopeful for the future.” She also opened up about her connection with fans, saying, “Honestly, it really feels amazing to see that there’s so many people that can relate to me and that they see themselves inside a part of me.”

When she feels down, Espinal said she leans on her support system. “Then I remember my Papayas, my family, my friends, and it really does help lift me up,” she added. “Thank you guys so much for being a part of this journey with me.”