"I was willing to give Nic up and just ride it out, however that looked like for me," she tells PEOPLE. "Out of respect for Cierra."

Love Island USA Season 7 winner Amaya "Papaya" Espinal has spoken out about her co-star Cierra Ortega's sudden exit from the series. During Wednesday's episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, the reality television star condemned Ortega's prior use of a racial slur.

Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen, dubbed “Nicolandria” by fans, became one of Love Island USA’s most beloved pairings, even before they officially coupled up midway through the season. After coming in second on the Love Island USA Season 7 finale,