Tia Blanco

Tiarah Lue Blanco, known as Tia Blanco, is an American professional surfer born on 5 May 1997 in Puerto Rico. Her father served as a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard, so she grew up in Puerto Rico, Hawaii and San Clemente, California, and she began surfing young under his teaching. She started entering competitions at thirteen, won two Southwest and national scholastic titles in 2014, and placed third overall at the 2014 World Juniors with the USA Surfing Team. In 2015 she won the World Surf League Ron Jon Vans Junior Pro, and she took gold at the International Surfing Association Open Women's World Surfing Championship in 2015 in Nicaragua and again in 2016 in Costa Rica. In 2021 she won the television competition The Ultimate Surfer, which earned her a place on the World Surf League Championship Tour. Away from the water she has worked with sponsors, launched apparel and supplement collaborations, appeared on MTV's The Challenge and runs a family clothing brand and farm.