If the opposite of Mark Zuckerberg surfing on a board in a tuxedo had a face, it would be the glam face of Dubai’s very own surf queen, Karolina Agata. Making surfing look sexy while in stilettos is this Polish dynamo, who has been living in Dubai for over a decade and dedicating her life to daredevil stunts, all while looking like a million bucks and often balancing things that cost just as much. From Birkins to Barbie avatars, sky-high heels to towering props, she balances on a wakeboard as if it were a cakewalk.
Speaking of cake, she has even balanced a five-layer cake, a giant pizza slice, an enormous glass of champagne, and oversized croissants, all while riding the waves. Agata’s journey didn’t begin in Poland but in Hawaii, where she lived and studied for five years. Coming from a cold country, she fell head over heels for the sea, the sun, and surfing (perhaps the only time she did fall).
What started as fun and games turned into a viral phenomenon. In May 2023, while in Miami, Agata uploaded a TikTok video of herself surfing in a bathrobe, wearing Nike Jordans, applying makeup, and carrying Cartier and Louboutin shopping bags. The video racked up 20 million views overnight and eventually crossed 50 million views, catapulting her into global fame.
Most people would already be left open-mouthed watching someone juggle so many tasks, but the fact that Agata does it all on a surfboard had viewers on their feet, applauding. In the words of the woman with over a million Instagram followers, her toughest stunts involved using an ironing board, complete with an iron, or decorating a giant Christmas tree without falling into the water.
Today, Agata, who commands a following of over 1 million fans on Instagram, runs her own company, K Surf Dubai, collaborating with several brands while staying true to her first love, surfing. She has partnered with major names including Urban Decay Cosmetics, BABYBOO, LOEWE, Lefties Official, Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Maybelline New York, and many more. While Agata has drawn widespread praise and stunned audiences worldwide, the same can’t be said for the world’s third-richest man, Mark Zuckerberg.
In a much-discussed 2021 stunt, the Meta CEO tried to channel patriotism and coolness by surfing an electric hydrofoil board in Hawaii. The internet erupted in laughter, calling it awkward, bizarre, and painfully staged. His stiff posture and robotic expression became instant meme material.
As part of his image reinvention in 2024, Zuckerberg returned with a far better and even appreciated version of the stunt. This time, wearing a tuxedo, holding a tallboy can in one hand, and waving a giant American flag in the other, all while Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 anthem “Born in the U.S.A.” blared in the background. He appeared more relaxed, better dressed in a tuxedo, accessorized with his signature gold chain, and finally managed to put the memory of the original cringe fest to rest. Still, when it comes to surfing in style, balancing elegance and daredevilry with jaw-dropping finesse, Karolina Agata leaves no room for competition. She is, quite simply, in a league of her own.
