It’s no secret that “Love Island USA” is impacting current culture as we know it. While it’s far from the first love-centered reality show that we’ve seen, its popularity is especially referential. The show’s foundational concept is unusual alone — being secluded on an island away from the outside world to find the love you’ve been looking for all your life. Islanders also played a significant role in season seven’s massive impact, including Olandria Carthen and Nicolas Vansteenberghe’s kiss that caused a massive crash-out at “Love Island” watch parties. Another highlight from the show that’s still on our minds? Amaya Espinal (aka our sensitive gangster) wearing a muumuu in episode 28.
While the New Yorker’s bubbly personality and witty candor have given us plenty of meme-worthy moments to reflect on, her muumuu is far from just another piece of clothing that’s passed the TikTok viral test. In an interview with the Today show, Espinal revealed that she only had a day to prepare for the show before being flown to Fiji, so she threw a bunch of clothing in a suitcase — including the muumuu she got during a trip to 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 says. “It was more than a dress for sure — it really made me feel grounded.”
Apart from the sentimental value it holds for Espinal, the muumuu bears cultural significance that’s particularly noteworthy. The comfortable piece can be traced back to the early 19th century, when Christian missionaries in Hawaii influenced native women to wear the silhouette to further cultivate modesty. Hawaiian women adapted a more casual, sleeveless version — the “holokū” — for everyday wear, before it was renamed the muumuu. Fast forward to present day, the dress style is still acceptable in Western culture, and often a go-to purchase for vacations, Hawaiian-themed parties like luaus, and more. And of course, celebrities have proudly embraced the muumuu — most recently, Kris Jenner, Oprah Winfrey, and Gayle King were seen wearing them on a Mallorca getaway.
Espinal wearing her own speaks to the diversity we need to see more of on reality shows, and is a surefire way to exhibit the fact that modesty is still attractive. During the scene in which she wore it, her partner, Bryan Arenales, complimented her look (despite her labeling it as a “grandma dress”). His support proves that you don’t always need to show skin to be deemed attractive or desired — especially in the eyes of your romantic partner.
While her exact dress isn’t available to shop, we found similar picks that evoke the same level of style and confidence: Unique Kaftans Floral Print Long Tunic Dress ($3, originally $10), JaipurCraftandArt Cotton Kaftan ($27, originally $75), and H&M Oversized Kaftan Dress ($75).
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Naomi Parris is an assistant shopping editor at Popsugar, based in New York. With over eight years of experience and previous roles held on the brand’s Beauty and Operations teams, she enjoys telling stories that merge fashion, beauty, and Black culture. Naomi has also lent her skillful pen to Essence Girls United, Elle, Bustle, and Elite Daily. When she’s not crafting shopping roundups, high-profile features, beauty op-eds, or trend guides, you can find Naomi behind her blog “Eli-Nay,” where she inspires readers through style guides, cultural pieces, and innovative content on her Instagram.
