“You are a special person” — Daniele thanks Ibiza after winning Too Hot to Handle: Italy season 1

Too Hot to Handle: Italy season 1 was released on Netflix on July 18, 2025, with all eight episodes available to stream at once. The show featured a group of single contestants staying at a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic, where they had to form emotional bonds without any physical contact.

By the final episode titled Eyes on the Prize, Lana, the AI host, announced Daniele as the winner, citing his emotional growth and transformation throughout the season.

Despite breaking rules early on with Federica and Ibiza, Daniele later focused on personal development and formed a genuine bond with Ibiza. When Lana crowned him the winner, the final prize pool had dropped from €100,000 to €62,000 due to multiple violations.

Daniele’s win was met with cheers from the other contestants. In his confessional, he shared that he never cared about the money and appreciated the emotional experience more. Referring to Ibiza, he added,

“I wanna say thank you because you are a special person,” and credited her for helping him grow.

The season closed with fireworks, celebrations, and Lana declaring Daniele the first winner of Too Hot to Handle: Italy.

Daniele’s transformation earns him the win in Too Hot to Handle: Italy

 

 

 

 

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Before announcing the winner in Too Hot to Handle: Italy, Lana narrated how each contestant had shown growth. She focused on Daniele’s arc, noting that he came into the retreat looking to flirt and party. A montage showed him joking with multiple girls, including scenes where he complimented Yomely. Lana explained that at the beginning, Daniele wasn’t serious and avoided emotional connections.

But by the end of the season, Lana said her data reflected change. She called Daniele a “small but strong person” and highlighted how his bond with Ibiza had become something real. Daniele responded in a confessional, saying he didn’t expect such praise and never thought of the retreat as a competition. “I never played the game,” he added, explaining that his attitude shifted over time.

Lana praised his journey in Too Hot to Handle: Italy, saying he had grown into a responsible person and shown the greatest transformation. Daniele admitted that he came in with a “cocky attitude” and had avoided following his heart in the past. He then thanked his castmates for helping him become a better version of himself.

Ibiza’s role in Daniele’s emotional journey

Ibiza played a key part in Daniele’s experience on the show, Too Hot to Handle: Italy. While the pair had some early rule breaks that affected the prize fund, they gradually built a deeper connection. In the final episode, Lana suggested that their story might have been just a summer fling in another setting, but the retreat gave it space to develop into something more meaningful.

Daniele acknowledged Ibiza’s influence on his transformation. Speaking directly to her in his final confessional, he said, “You are a special person,” and admitted that he wouldn’t have changed without her. He also blew her a kiss and reflected on how his mindset had evolved during the show.

Ibiza had revealed earlier in the season that she is a mother, which helped Daniele understand her depth and vulnerability. Their conversations became more open as the show progressed, and their connection stood out among the other pairings. Though the show ended with Daniele’s solo win, his bond with Ibiza was central to his growth, as recognized by Lana and the rest of the group.

Stay tuned for more updates.