"I haven't stopped smiling ever since," Espinal tells PEOPLE
Credit: Courtesy of Dr. Nick Mavro (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- Love Island season 7 winner Amaya Espinal unveiled her smile makeover
- Espinal got veneers with New York City-based cosmetic dentist Dr. Nick Mavro
- Espinal tells PEOPLE that the transformation has “made a big difference boosting my confidence level”
A brand new Amaya Espinal has entered the villa.
The Love Island star (known as Amaya Papaya to fans of the reality series) is unveiling her smile makeover, courtesy of cosmetic dentist Dr. Nick Mavro. Espinal discovered Dr. Mavro through a mutual friend and was familiar with his work before she found fame as the winner of Love Island season 7. She tells PEOPLE that she "always knew" she'd want to work with him on her new smile.
"Given my new career and path in life, I wanted my smile to be more symmetrical and help build more confidence when public speaking," she says of her goals for the transformation.
Dr. Mavro says he was focused on getting more of Espinal's teeth to show when speaking.
"I've known and followed Amaya for years and always thought her teeth were relatively small," he says. "When she reached out to me, I had a specific vision in mind. I knew that I wanted to add more length, give her upper lip support and go a touch brighter on color."
Credit: Courtesy of Dr. Nick Mavro
He notes that there's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to cosmetic dentistry.
"Smile design is never about a 'perfect smile,'" he explains. "It's about the right smile for each patient, based on their features and natural movement.
Dr. Mavro practices in New York City and has worked with a slew of celebrity clients, including Summer House stars Lindsay Hubbard and Jesse Solomon, Philadelphia Eagles player Saquon Barkley and Not Skinny but Not Fat podcast host Amanda Hirsch.
Credit: Courtesy of Dr. Nick Mavro
Espinal, he says, was a dream to work with.
"Amaya has an undeniable presence; it’s part of why the public fell in love with her on Love Island, and enhancing that kind of natural confidence makes for the best kind of patient," he says. "She was already familiar with my work and aesthetic philosophy, so there was an immediate level of trust that allowed me to fully execute my vision for her smile makeover."
Credit: Courtesy of Dr. Nick Mavro
Upon seeing her new smile, Dr. Mavro says that Espinal was "ecstatic." Since the transformation, he adds, she's displayed a renewed sense of confidence.
"Seeing Amaya’s initial reaction in the chair was one thing, but what I’ve loved most is watching her on the red carpet and at other media-related events with her new smile, speaking and smiling more freely than before," he says. "It’s not just dentistry; it’s giving patients newfound confidence."
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Espinal agrees. "It was a small difference but made a big difference boosting my confidence level. I haven't stopped smiling ever since," she says of her new look.
The reality star also notes that the process "was way easier than expected and completely painless."
"Dr. Mavro made the experience really comfortable for me and took his time to explain the process to me so I had a clear idea of what was going to happen," she recalls.
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