Alexa Santamaria is a nurse and model from Atlanta, Georgia. In 2025, she gained recognition after appearing on season 9 of Netflix’s reality show Temptation Island.
Alexa Santamaria and Lino Troisi, along with three other couples, put their love to the test on Netflix’s Temptation Island, a daring experiment to save their struggling relationships.
They faced temptation in its most alluring form, meeting a group of singles tasked with challenging their commitment. Separated from their partners, each had to confront their doubts, insecurities, and desires head-on.
Alexa revealed a profound transformation: her love for Lino had grown more than she could have imagined. She opened up about their past struggles, including her lingering fears from a previous divorce.
During the show, she and her boyfriend, Lino Troisi, remained faithful to each other and left the island engaged. They later confirmed plans to tie the knot in Italy in fall 2026.
Outside of reality TV, Alexa has worked as a nurse assisting with labor and delivery and has also pursued modeling. She has a strong social media presence, with over 80,000 followers on Instagram.
Alexa Santamaria Ethnicity: From Latino-Asian Roots to Italian Love
Alexa Santamaria embodies a rich cultural mosaic, with Latino and Asian roots from her father’s side and Anglo-Saxon heritage from her mother’s.
Recently engaged to Lino, her journey has captured the hearts of fans, including fellow Temptation Island contestant Giovvani Troini, who celebrated their love and proudly highlighted Lino’s Italian background.
Though her first marriage at 21 was short-lived, she channeled her energy into modeling, working with Florida-based talent agency Caroline Gleason Management for print campaigns.
Alexa expressed her gratitude and affection for Italian culture, adding another layer to her own vibrant identity.
Alexa’s father, Boyet Santamaria, carved a unique path as one of the few male models to succeed in Southeast Asia and New York during the late ’80s.
Discovered by director and choreographer Gary Flores in 1986, Boyet’s career took him across Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Today, he serves as a Regional Sales Director for First Data, overseeing operations in the Carolinas.
Her mother, Laurie Howard, built an impressive 25-year career at Bank of America’s Commercial Merchant Bankcard Division before its merger with First Data.
When Boyet’s job relocated the family to Charlotte, Laurie embraced a new challenge, earning her real estate license to pursue her passion.
Before settling in Florida, she lived in Southern California while Alexa served in the Navy and spent much of her earlier life in Oregon.
