20 Questions with Afro-Latina Pro Surfer Nique Miller
Afro Latina pro surfer rides the nose of a longboard off a break in Honolulu. Originally from Texas, she has lived in Oahu for several years. Mokupuni o Hawai‘i was originally settled by the Kānaka Maoli. Photo credit: Tommy Pierucki
In 2019, we first interviewed Afro-Latina surfer Dominique Miller, a standout performer on the APP and WSL, about the joys and challenges of being a self-taught, dark-skinned woman of color in the surfing industry. Since then she has announced a Billabong sponsorship and grown her social media following to over 100k followers on Instagram alone.
We caught up with her by phone as she was training at home in Honolulu, Hawai’i, (originally settled by the Kānaka Maoli).
So Nique, you’ve blown up on the surfing scene and on social media in the past year! What has it been like reaching 100k followers on Instagram?
It was a huge shock! I was happy to just have 30k you know. Having followers and likes isn’t the most important thing in life but it’s also a big part of my job and this was a huge accomplishment. I put in a lot of work and the fact that a lot of people are interested and following what I’m doing is pretty cool.
“People were shining a spotlight on us when we’ve been here all along, putting in the work and chasing our dreams.”
Has that had any effects on your day to day life; surfing or otherwise?
I am getting better at balancing the lifestyle of a pro-surfer and a digital influencer. Initially I had a really difficult time navigating all of it. I mean, it felt like going from 0-100 mph. I’ve been on the scene for a while but it felt like everything happened all at once last year.
I didn't have the funds for a manager or assistant so I was doing it all on my own, responding to all the messages and requests and organizing shoots. It was a lot! Once you hit a certain number of followers, brands and individuals want to be a part of things so much more. I’m super excited about it and the whole process, but it has been a learning curve figuring out how to navigate it all.
I try to be authentic and real with everyone, but I realized I have to keep space for myself and that's taken some learning. There are people who will try to take advantage or simply say mean things in the comments. I’ve always viewed myself as a surfer first and foremost. The online space has taken some getting used to, but, it's a step on my journey and I’m grateful for it.
“I think my journey is important to share as I’m Billabong’s first Black and Hispanic athlete. That was huge on a personal level. I hope that opens the doors for more people of color.”
You picked up Billabong as a sponsor! What was that like?
I am so grateful for Billabong and Sun Balm! It’s been my forever-dream to attain that goal and join Billabong’s surf team. Prior to being signed, I was an Billabong ambassador. I got free suits to shoot here and there, but last summer I signed a contract and now I'm officially a team rider!
Getting signed was such a dream! It also has been a lot of work. Initially, I wasn't doing a great job of taking care of self, but in the last few months I’ve taken more steps to be better to myself and set aside more personal time so I don't feel burnt out and edgy. All the interviews and podcasts bring up so many past memories and experiences that I haven't talked about in years—some that I haven’t fully processed or healed from. At times, it has been overwhelming. I had to set boundaries for myself. I was having too much taken from me and I didn't like that feeling. Now I’m trying my best to be a lot better about that exchange of self in interviews and on social media. Being real, but also keeping myself for myself.
Do you think your sponsorship will increase opportunities for other surfers who look like you?
I think my journey is important to share as I’m Billabong’s first Black and Hispanic athlete. That was huge on a personal level. I hope that opens the doors for more people of color. A lot of people see surfing as a fit white person's sport. But when you look out at the lineup, there's so much diversity. All ages. All body types and skin colors. Surfing is for everyone. I think people often forget or don't realize surfing originated from Polynesians and Hawaiians—who are people of color. So no one should ever feel like they can't surf because of the way they look. This sport is for everyone. As long as you're out there having fun and staying safe, that’s what's most important!
Are you still competing on the WSL/APP tours?
Last year in 2020 everything was pretty much canceled due to the lockdowns. This year, most of the early season contests have been put on hold or pushed to later in the year. All of the WSL and APP stand-up paddleboard events are supposed to start back up in the Fall. Right now, I am just on standby until summer. My first contest will be Sayulita, Mexico for MEXI LOG FEST. This is a very big and prestigious invite-only longboarding contest. I’m super excited to go to it. It will be my first year!
Are you still competing locally?
There haven’t been a lot of competitions in Hawaii, but I’m still training every day to progress my own style and skill.
Who were your role models surfing?
Growing up I kind of just taught myself. I was hungry to learn. I didn't really have role models or any surfers I was looking up to. Now though, I look to Crystal Walsh. She took second in Worlds, but is a champ in my mind. Also, Bonga Perkins, a 2x World Champion and local Hawaiian surfer. I got to compete against him in a contest once. He smoked me but he was so kind and so encouraging in the heat and praised my surfing after the contest. Both of them are so good, so skilled, and so humble. Those are the types of athletes that inspire me. Athletes that are good at what they do and hard working and are extremely humble. I try to do the same in my surfing and life.
Some of the things I like about how those two surf is that they’re progressive. They do dynamic moves, big turns, get barreled but also are very graceful with the classic style. They walk the nose, hang ten and are not just surfing on longboards. They are versatile athletes and that's what I want to be. I'm always trying to set myself apart and be a more well-rounded surfer.
How has life been since March 2020? Did you get to compete last year?
Last year, I did one contest, single and unattached, sponsored by Vans in the Philippines. I got 3rd place! That was in February 2020. The pandemic was just gaining speed and people weren't sure what exactly was going to happen. Then in March everything shut down. The contests all got pushed further and further back. Then they pretty much cancelled everything. The MEXI LOG FEST was cancelled and then they cancelled the WSL and Standup World Tour stops as well.
I got left with pretty much training and enjoying Hawaii. Not terrible but not what I’d hoped for. But that was the story of so many things last year.
You had an injury last year as well?
Yeah! I got hit by a beginner surfer in my knee. It was pretty bad. Their board cut my knee which resulted in 25 stitches. It hit my tendon and the injury was painful. I was going into shock. Thankfully I had two photographers out with me and they were able to get the lifeguards to help me out of the water.
Nique is known for her goofy-footed elegant style on the longboard and fierceness on the paddleboard. Photo credit: Tommy Pierucki
I couldn't walk for a month afterwards. I had this huge brace and then had to do two months of rehab. I was out of surfing until July. It was weird but the timing actually worked out. It did suck to be injured and confined to a couch for a while, however, I wasn’t missing anything on the surf circuit since all the competitions had been cancelled due to pandemic. It was bizarre though. I’m super active and being stuck in a recliner and unable to sleep on my side or anything, it was really rough.
How is your knee doing now?
It's doing so much better. I’m training every day again and feeling strong!
Are you still working as a surf photographer?
There isn’t much time for it anymore. Training takes up so much of my time as well as content creation. A lot of my hobbies outside of surfing have taken a backseat as well as I try to keep time for self and family.
What is your content creation process like? Do you work with the same people or try to draw inspiration from a variety of sources:
I work with a good group of friends which is nice so I always have folks to shoot with and we can create the content I need on a daily basis. I feel that, as a woman of color in this industry, I have to create and be better continually. You can't be average as a Black, Indigenous or Person of Color (BIPOC) in this or any other industry. There is pressure to be good. It’s unfortunate that a lot of people don't associate people of color with surfing. Which sucks. I want people to see me at my best.
Beyond that, my dream is to be a world champion. So these two pressures, external and internal, are present. I want to show everyone that body type, skin color—all that doesn't matter. Chasing and realizing your dream are what matters. Staying true to yourself.
What does it mean to be a dark-skinned woman of color and a sponsored athlete in the surf community?
After the Black Lives Matter protests last year, I started getting more attention. I picked up sponsors and saw a lot of other deserving athletes gain sponsorship as well. Especially in industries where BIPOC are underrepresented or lack visibility such as surfing, ballet, mountain biking, and kayaking.
It was both really awesome and really frustrating. I worried and worry sometimes that if all those people didn't die—if George, Ahmad, Breonna and so many others weren’t murdered, would I be getting this attention? It was hard to tell how genuine it was. People were shining a spotlight on us when we’ve been here all along, putting in the work and chasing our dreams.
And there were many people before, during, and after that were naysayers. Telling me that I shouldn’t chase this goal of being sponsored, being the first Afro-Latina on the team. And then when I got signed, they all wanted a piece of it. It was frustrating.
I want to occupy this space and inspire other women of color to chase their dream—whatever it is. And forget the naysayers, because what YOU want; what YOU dream, is all that matters, if you commit to chasing it.
You describe pressure from the outside and a drive inside, can you explain that a little?
I feel pressure from the outside to be a certain way, fit a certain mold. But I drive myself. I have my goal of becoming a world champion. And I’m going to achieve that. No matter what the external pressure says. People want to see you on their level when you're succeeding. They want the reward without the effort. Or can't dream big enough. I’ve wanted this my whole life. I’d dreamed about this. Envisioned this. I spent hours as a child dreaming and visualizing. Anime helped. That's such a theme in anime—accomplishing your dreams and leveling up. I watched so much Dragon Ball Z and Pokémon and Naruto growing up. These characters just struggled and grew and believed in themselves and that resonated with me.
I grew up with my Mexican side of the family. We grew up working so hard for everything we had and that stuck with me. My upbringing gave me my work ethic and also a very strong belief in myself and my journey. So, I’ve always had that belief, that it may take longer than others, but that unshakeable faith—I know I can do it!—and I don't care what others think. All those people that never believed in me, though—I do feel the pressure to prove them wrong. But I use that to keep me focused. I want to be able to say, one day, “look!—I did it.; without your help and in spite of your lack of belief.”
I’ve never reached out to ask for help because [laughs] I feel like I should be able to figure it out. I get nervous to ask for help. But I’m valuing doing things on my own and am learning through the process—from all my successes and failures.
Do you have advice on how other aspiring BIPOC surfers can reach your level?
Take a surf lesson: for beginners or also for those wanting to be a pro. I learned by watching at first. I think my journey would've been a lot faster if I had had proper instruction., but I didn't have money for that. And many people don’t. But if you can afford it, take a lesson. You can also learn from a friend as well.
I’d also say surf all conditions. Don't be picky. Learn to surf and enjoy it every session, whether you want to compete or just for fun. That outlook of being ready for everything prepares you for competition but also for life.
Surround yourself with good people—people who believe in you. Some people don't have your best interests in mind, not just with regards to business but in life or surfing or in general.
Practice, practice, practice.
And have fun! Enjoy what you're doing. If you push so hard that you don't remember why you started, it won’t hold joy. Your body will not comply. At one point, I was overtraining and I wasn't surfing well because I was pushing too hard.
Is surfing safe for beginners?
The ocean is so powerful. It can be dangerous. Definitely take a lesson or two first. After that, I would say go out and rent a board, preferably a longboard. They’re more stable and easier to catch waves. First also, ask the surf instructor or life guard or someone who is knowledgeable where is a good area for me to surf? What is the current doing? Is there anything I should know about like riptides or the reef? In Honolulu, ten days after the full moon we have jellyfish. If you just went out and bought a board you wouldn’t know. But if you ask someone, they’ll tell you.
There are certain breaks, within a half mile, there are two or three different surf breaks and each one might be different. When I worked as a surf photographer, we took our students to Pops. Two hundred feet over is Paradise break. Paradise is filled with sea urchins. If you wipe out, you might step on a sea urchin. If you step on one, you end up with needles in your skin. It’s like stepping on a porcupine. It hurts so bad. And you can’t get it out of your skin. You have to let your body expel it. If you try to mess with it the needle shaft breaks apart. If you’re not knowledgeable of the area where you surf, it can be dangerous.
If you’re not familiar with the area where you’re going to surf, it’s always good to ask a lifeguard. I would honestly say two lessons are better. When you are out there, I recommend watching the best person out there and try and do what they’re doing and have fun and have safe.
The conditions might be smooth and gentle one day and windy the next. I can’t tell you how many times people rent paddleboards and then end up drifting out to sea and someone has to call the Coast Guard to come get them. Tourists don’t realize; they think it will be fun and then they’re two miles out.
How are you preparing for the upcoming season?
I’m training a bunch. The first contest is the MEXI LOG FEST in June 2021. The Standup World Tour and WSL are on the table too but until dates are set, I'm just training and waiting. There are a lot of countries that are still closed to US travelers or the red tape is extreme. Most the contests have been locked down or closed due to COVID. I’m just playing it by ear and training hard and staying ready.
What boards are you riding now?
The board I am currently riding is mainly a Michael Takayama but I do have a board from Ross Williams and a board from a local shaper here in Waikiki. Right now, I am in between shapers because I am just trying to experiment with other boards and see what works for me and what I like and don’t like. I think it’s important to find the best board that I’ll rip on surfing a contest.
What are your favorite conditions to surf in?
My favorite conditions to surf are small to medium waves. I like how gentle and playful they are. I really dislike big waves because I hate being held under and tumbled around. Plus, sometimes, they have so much power and are so fast it’s hard to do clean maneuvers on them. However in contests I don’t get a choice what I get to surf. Whatever the conditions are in my heat—big, small, windy, bumpy—I have to go out. That’s why I try to practice in everything so I’m always prepared and more well rounded.
What are your goals for 2021?
Hopefully, when I’m finally able to compete my goal is to win at least three comps this year and work my way into the Top 7 of both tours. I haven’t competed in a year so I feel like I might be a bit rusty. I also want to travel more and see some new places. And lastly, I would really love to pick up a few more sponsors so I'm able to afford even more contests.
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