Love Island USA is back for the summer, and one contestant is already making a splash in the villa.
During the season 8 premiere on June 2, 2026, many viewers were excited to meet Paralympian Beatriz Hatz.
“What’s my type? Ooooh!” Beatriz said in her intro video, “Tall, dark and handsome!”
The San Diego, California resident may just be in luck as a diverse group of single Islanders appear on Peacock’s reality show and search for love — all while trying to win the public’s favor.
At the end of the season, one couple will be named the winner and take home a massive cash prize.
Keep reading to learn more about Beatriz and make sure to watch new episodes of Love Island USA streaming on Peacock five nights a week at 9 p.m. ET.
Beatriz Hatz Is a Paralympian Athlete
Before flying to Fiji for an unforgettable Love Island summer, Beatriz competed in two Paralympic Games in track and field.
She made her Paralympic debut at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020. Four years later, she won the bronze medal in the long jump at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Beatriz Hatz Was Born With a Rare Birth Defect
According to her Team USA bio, Beatriz was born without a fibula in her right leg, a congenital condition known as Fibular Hemimelia.
As a result, she had her limb amputated below the knee when she was 10 months old.
“Don’t feel bad for me. I can do everything you can do,” Beatriz told Amplitude Magazine. “I just like proving them wrong. I don’t showboat about it. … It just makes me feel good that I represent the disabled community that way.”
What Is Beatriz Hatz’s Astrology Sign?
When Peacock announced the cast for Love Island USA, fans learned that Beatriz is a Libra.
Those who hold the air sign strive for harmony in their relationships and will go to great lengths to please their partner, according to experts.
Libras are also typically described as social butterflies who do well in groups of people.
How Is Beatriz Hatz Inspiring Other Kids?
During a chat with Interview Magazine in 2024, Beatriz opened up about being an inspiration for other children with limb impairments.
“For me, sometimes kids can be very mean,” she told the publication. “I got bullied growing up, and I know what that’s like for other kids. And out in public, I’ll see a little kid who’s got a prosthetic, and I’ll immediately walk over, even if I’m wearing pants, and say, ‘Hey, you’re just like me. Look, I have one, too.’ And their parents always tell me, ‘Thank you for that. They always feel like the only ones.’ When I was little, I definitely felt like the only one. I love that I can be a help and an advocate, even for people who are able-bodied.”
What Is Beatriz Hatz Looking for in a Partner?
“My mom always spoke to us in Spanish. I am Mexican and white, so my dream man is someone who’s going to appreciate my culture,” she said in a video for Peacock.
She also loves relationships where “the man is strong enough to allow me to be in my feminine energy, but I’m not gonna compete for a man. He’s not a medal.”
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