From cross-country to the water, Nique Miller has used her athletic ability for good. Photo: Caleb Heikes
Nique Miller’s road to a career as a professional surfer has been a rocky one. Growing up, Miller’s family didn’t have a lot of money and being half African American, half Mexican American, she often felt out of place.
“On the mainland, especially back then, it wasn’t cool to look like me — dark skin, crazy hair, broader features, and a more athletic build,” says Miller. “I never felt like I fit.”
Attempting to conform, Miller stayed out of the sun as much as possible to try and keep her skin light and got her hair chemically straightened. She restricted what she ate, worried that her athletic build wouldn’t be socially accepted at school. In 2011, Miller moved to Oahu to attend the University of Hawaii on a cross-country scholarship and finally, she felt at home.
“When I moved to Hawaii, it was the first time in my life people said I was beautiful,” says Miller. “I started accepting myself and feeling confident in my own skin — it’s the first place that I ever felt like it was okay to be me.”
The majority of Miller’s cross-country teammates were avid surfers, so she began paddling out with them after school. Living in Waikiki, she made friends with the local beach boys who lent her boards and she quickly discovered she had a knack for surfing.
Next, she was introduced to stand-up paddling and found she had a talent for that as well. By 2014, she had qualified for both the APP World Tour and the World Longboard Tour, splitting her time between SUP surfing and longboarding.
While traveling the world competing as a professional athlete may sound like the dream, it was an uphill battle for Miller. For years, she didn’t have a major sponsor and self-funded her travels, making it nearly impossible to get to every stop of the tour. She worked full time as a surf instructor and photographer, sneaking in surfs and paddles whenever possible. She also worked hard on her social media content, regularly posting photos and tagging brands in hopes of someday attracting a sponsor.
In 2019, her hard work finally paid off when Miller signed with Billabong.
Style and grace in the water has translated to good things for Miller. Photo: Caleb Heikes
“I cried when I landed Billabong,” she says. “It was my dream and so many people told me it was never going to happen because they don’t sponsor people that look like me, but I knew in my heart that it could happen.”
Signing with Billabong was a big move for Miller in more ways than one. It gave her the opportunity to focus on her training and for the first time, she had the support she needed to travel to all the stops on tour. As an Afro-Latina surfer, it also gave her a platform to show other minorities that succeeding as a professional surfer was possible.
With the onset of Black Lives Matter, Miller began gaining recognition from brands looking to showcase diversity. She signed with other sponsors like Sun Bum and Nuun. She also landed the cover of SurfGirl magazine. While Miller celebrates every small win, she still thinks there’s more work to be done to promote equality in surfing.
Through her travels, Miller has observed incredible surf talent across the globe. In Polynesia, Mexico, and at home in Hawaii, she says she’s witnessed some of the most impressive surfing she’s ever seen. While these surfers have the talent required to compete at the pro level, they don’t have the sponsorship or financial backing needed to travel to competitions.
“Before Black Lives Matter, I stayed silent because I didn’t want to get cancelled or ‘blacklisted,’” says Miller. “But there’s so much more work to be done — there are so many amazing minority surfers that don’t get highlighted.”
Miller is a multi-tool surfer who’s finally able to travel more. Photo: Courtesy Nique Miller
Miller likes to compare her life to the childhood fable of the tortoise and the hare. While some people reach their goals quickly, Miller has always taken more time to cross the finish line and achieve hers, but eventually, she always does. She hopes the story is the same for minority surfers.
Miller dreams of a day when it’s normal to see surfers of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities surfing local lineups and on the world tour. With her surfing, she hopes to open people’s eyes and show that everyone is capable of riding waves, regardless of background. Winning a world title and gaining more recognition for minority surfers is on the list, too.
“Right now, I feel blessed and feel like I’m living the dream that I’ve always wanted,” says Miller. “I’m super grateful but it took a long time to get here — I don’t want people to ever be in the position where they’re told they can’t do something. Hopefully, I’m inspiring boys and girls and making the road a little bit easier.”
