Stephanie Louise Gilmore (born January 29, 1988) is an Australian professional surfer and the most decorated female surfer in world championship history. She has won eight world titles on the World Surf League Championship Tour, more than any other woman in the sport.
Known as “Happy Gilmore,” she is celebrated for her smooth style, powerful surfing, and infectious personality in and out of the water.
Who is Stephanie Gilmore?
Stephanie Gilmore is an eight-time WSL World Champion and the greatest female surfer of all time. Additionally, her record of eight world titles is the highest in the history of the women’s professional tour.
She is celebrated for her smooth, flowing, and powerful surfing style. Also known as Steph, Gilmore set a new standard for women’s surfing that the next generation continues to chase.
Beyond competition, she is a passionate advocate for gender equality in sport. Gilmore was a driving force behind equal prize money for women on the WSL Championship Tour.
That achievement helped change professional surfing forever.
She is also an entrepreneur and brand ambassador with major endorsement deals and her own business ventures. In 2026, Gilmore made a highly anticipated return to the WSL Championship Tour after a planned two-year break. She is now chasing a record ninth world title.
Early Life of Stephanie Gilmore
Stephanie Louise Gilmore was born on January 29, 1988, in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia. She grew up in Kingscliff, a coastal town in northern New South Wales, close to the famous surf breaks of the Gold Coast.
Her father, Jeff Gilmore, was a passionate surfer who introduced her to the waves at the age of 10. That early experience sparked a lifelong love of the ocean.
She has two older sisters, Whitney and Bonnie Gilmore. Whitney has managed Stephanie’s professional career since 2010, keeping her business affairs close to family.
Growing up, Stephanie preferred sports and the outdoors over anything else. The ocean quickly became the center of her world, and her natural talent on a surfboard emerged almost immediately.
She earned the nickname “Happy Gilmore,” a nod to her joyful and positive personality both in and out of the water.
Stephanie Gilmore Age
Stephanie Gilmore is 38 years old as of 2026, born on January 29, 1988. She is currently competing on the 2026 WSL Championship Tour, showing no signs of slowing down.
Stephanie Gilmore Ethnicity and Nationality
Stephanie Gilmore is Australian by nationality. She is of Caucasian descent and was born and raised on the northern coast of New South Wales, Australia. Her deep connection to Australian surf culture has always been central to her identity.
Stephanie Gilmore Height and Weight
Per celebznote.com, Stephanie Gilmore stands at 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) tall. Her height gives her excellent reach and control on the surfboard, contributing to her signature long, drawn-out surfing style on waves.
Her weight is reportedly around 147 lbs (approximately 67 kg), That physical build has proven ideal for powerful, controlled surfing across a wide range of wave conditions.
Stephanie Gilmore Education
Stephanie attended Tweed Heads Public School during her early childhood years. She later completed her secondary education at Kingscliff High School in northern New South Wales, Australia.
Her time at school overlapped with her earliest surfing achievements. She reportedly won her first World Tour event “on a day off from high school,” which tells you everything about how fast she was developing.
Surfing always came first for Steph.
After high school, Gilmore pursued professional surfing full time on the world circuit. Outside the water, she has spoken about her love of music, photography, and travel. Those passions reflect a curious and creative mind that goes well beyond competitive surfing.
Stephanie Gilmore Career
Early Career
Stephanie first entered a professional event as a wildcard at the age of 17. She shocked the surfing world by winning the 2005 Roxy Pro Gold Coast against seasoned professionals on the Women’s Championship Tour.
The following year, she won another wildcard event, the 2006 Havaianas Beachley Classic. Those back-to-back wildcard wins qualified her for the 2007 ASP Women’s World Tour. Nobody was quite prepared for what she would do next.
Professional Debut and Rookie Year
In 2007, Gilmore won four of the eight events on the Women’s ASP World Tour. She became the world champion in her very first full season on tour, the only surfer in tour history to have ever achieved this.
Her rookie title stunned the global surfing community. She was just 19 years old and had already dominated the best surfers in the world.
The world took notice immediately.
Major Achievements
After her stunning rookie year, Gilmore repeated as world champion in 2008, 2009, and 2010, four consecutive titles overall. In December 2010, she suffered a violent attack outside her Tweed Heads home, where an intruder struck her with an iron bar, fracturing her wrist and injuring her head. She returned to competition stronger than ever.
That same year, Gilmore was inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame, becoming the youngest inductee ever at just 22 years old. She also won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year award in 2010. It remains the most remarkable year of her career.
She went on to claim her fifth world title in 2012, sixth in 2014, seventh in 2018, and eighth in 2022. Her 2022 title was the most dramatic of all, as she came from fifth place in the WSL Finals format to win five consecutive heats at Lower Trestles in California. That win cemented her legacy as the undisputed greatest women’s surfer of all time.
2026 Return to Competition
Gilmore took a planned break from full-time WSL competition during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In November 2025, she announced her return to the WSL Championship Tour as a Season Wildcard entrant for 2026.
She made a strong start to the new season, reaching the Gold Coast Pro finals and defeating several top-ranked competitors. Her return has energized the entire women’s surfing world.
At 38, Steph Gilmore is not done yet.
Stephanie Gilmore Career Stats and Records
Gilmore holds the record for the most world titles in the history of women’s professional surfing, with eight championships. She also has 35 WSL Championship Tour event wins, placing her second in the all-time list behind only Kelly Slater.
No other athlete has shaped the women’s professional surfing tour the way Gilmore has.
She is the only surfer of either gender to win a world title in their debut season on the Championship Tour. Her four consecutive titles from 2007 to 2010 also remain one of the most dominant runs in the sport’s history. Furthermore, her record at specific venues, including the Gold Coast Pro, is without equal in the women’s division.
Stephanie Gilmore Awards and Championships
Gilmore’s list of honors is extraordinary by any standard in sport. She won the WSL Rookie of the Year award in 2007 and became the youngest inductee to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame just three years later in 2010.
She won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year in 2010 and the ESPY Award for Best Female Action Sports Athlete in both 2011 and 2013. Gilmore also represented Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, competing in only the sport’s second-ever Olympic appearance.
These awards span nearly two decades and reflect a consistency that very few athletes in any sport can match.
Stephanie Gilmore Endorsements and Sponsorships
Gilmore is one of the most commercially successful athletes in Australian surfing history. She was named the highest-earning Australian female athlete in 2015, driven by major long-term endorsement contracts.
Her headline partnership is an eight-year deal with Rip Curl, announced in 2024, centered on “The Search” global surfing project. Prior to that, she spent 13 years as a lead brand ambassador for Roxy, the female-focused brand under Quiksilver. She also holds deals with Nikon Australia, Audi Australia, and health food brand Sanitarium.
Her business ventures show a sharp entrepreneur behind the athlete.
She co-launched the tequila brand Cinca with fellow former WSL competitors Macy Callaghan, Nikki Van Dijk, Dimity Stoyle, and Laura Enever. She also founded Steph Surf Shop, her own surf accessories brand. Those ventures reflect a long-term vision that goes well beyond competitive surfing.
Stephanie Gilmore Boyfriend
Stephanie Gilmore is currently single. She has always kept her personal life extremely private and rarely discusses relationships in public.
She reportedly previously dated Mark Shawyer, co-owner of a Surfers Paradise restaurant, though this relationship is not recent. Gilmore has never married and has no children. Her career and personal adventures have always taken center stage in her life.
Privacy is something she protects fiercely.
When asked about life off the tour, Gilmore has spoken about her love of music, photography, and traveling the world. She plays electric guitar and has a deep passion for exploring uncharted waves and cultures. For Steph, life away from the ocean is just as rich as life on it.
Stephanie Gilmore Net Worth
Stephanie Gilmore’s estimated net worth is $6 million as of 2026. Her wealth has been built over nearly two decades at the very top of professional surfing.
Her primary income sources include WSL Championship Tour prize money, her landmark deal with Rip Curl, and past long-term contracts with Roxy and Nikon Australia. Endorsements with Audi Australia and Sanitarium have added significantly to her overall earnings.
Her Cinca tequila brand and Steph Surf Shop contribute further to her growing business portfolio.
As she competes for a ninth world title in 2026, her commercial profile and earning potential remain as strong as ever.
Stephanie Gilmore Social Media
Stephanie Gilmore is active and engaged across multiple social media platforms. Fans can follow her journey on Instagram @stephaniegilmore, where she shares surfing content, travel stories, and personal moments from around the world.
Steph’s social media gives fans a genuine look at her life off the board.
She is also active on X (Twitter) @Steph_gilmore and maintains an official Facebook page at @stephaniegilmoreofficialpage. Together, her platforms have a combined following of over 1.3 million fans worldwide.
Her official website, StephGilmore.com, provides the latest updates on her competition schedule, brand partnerships, and new projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Stephanie Gilmore’s net worth?
Stephanie Gilmore’s estimated net worth is $6 million as of 2026.
How old is Stephanie Gilmore?
Stephanie Gilmore is 38 years old as of 2026, born on January 29, 1988.
Who is Stephanie Gilmore’s boyfriend?
Stephanie Gilmore is currently single and keeps her personal life very private.
What is Stephanie Gilmore’s height?
Stephanie Gilmore stands at 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) tall.
Where was Stephanie Gilmore born?
Stephanie Gilmore was born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia.
What is Stephanie Gilmore famous for?
Stephanie Gilmore is famous for winning 8 WSL World Championship titles, the most in the history of women’s professional surfing.
What is Stephanie Gilmore’s ethnicity?
Stephanie Gilmore is of Caucasian descent and is Australian by nationality.
How many world titles has Stephanie Gilmore won?
Stephanie Gilmore has won 8 world titles: in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
The Bottom Line
Stephanie Gilmore is one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of professional sport. Her eight world championships, 35 Championship Tour event wins, and tireless advocacy for gender equality in surfing make her a true icon of the modern sporting era.
We hope you enjoyed reading about Stephanie Gilmore. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!