Catching up with Mariah Buhagiar is always fun. She’s explosive, open, confident and completely unfiltered. She’s a coiled spring, ready to pop. Chatting her right before a Christmas Day surf was amazing as her stories of surf and art are as vibrant as the sunlit beach. She was just visiting from a trip that was more than your average one: months in the cold bleak country of Estonia, with not a surf in sight. “…Oh, it’s amazing, I’m so happy to be back. It feels like I didn’t leave at all!” she grinned immediately after a hug.
Mariah’s surfing adventure isn’t just about carving up coastlines; it’s also a comeback story from an ACL injury, a tale she recounts with unbeatable optimism. This was her first day back, and she was blessed with rare Christmas waves. “I didn’t think I was gonna stand up because of my ACL injury, but yes!” she beams, proving the surf’s call is too strong to ignore, even when you’re down.
Pre-injury, Mariah ripped, danced hard partied harder. Post-injury, Mariah isn’t just chilling; she’s charging full steam ahead again. “Yes, I work out, at home, I go to a gym in Estonia because, you know, I need to recover,” she says, laughing off the rigorous rehab with a shrug that says it’s just another wave to ride. It’s never easy coming back from ACL surgery, but wiht the right frame of mind and attitude, she’s making light work of it.

Her time in Estonia, a snowy detour from the sunny Mediterranean coastline, had its challenges, “Oh my God, it’s terrible. I hated not seeing the sea,” Mariah admits, echoing every surfer’s worst nightmare. But she swapped her surfboard for a chance to try something completely new in life. For a Maltese to live in such extremes is never easy. We’re spoiled by the sun and cheaper lifestyle, and of course, our amazing community. “It was a bit tough not having the sea,” but the life experiences she’s gaining can’t be matched.
Mariah’s Explosive art
One of the most impressive sides to Mariah is her ability to express herself via her provocative and explosive art. It’s talent, beauty and storytelling all bundled together. A recent piece showing two girls making out went viral, and that’s a side of life Mariah is happy to explore, express and talk about. Mariah is honest and true to herself, and is an example for everyone in the line up.

Surfing and art merge in Mariah’s world like the perfect swell. For her, the ocean isn’t just a playground; it’s a muse, “The sea is something I really like and something I’ve got inspired from. So I try to kind of integrate it in my art,” she explains, her words painting a picture of waves transformed into brush strokes. Even her surfboards are canvases. Her own Torq is decorated with a gorgeously flowing Manta Ray, and she’d like to paint these fun canvases more.
The mental game of surfing has reshaped Mariah’s outlook, shifting from competitive sports’ pressures to embracing the solitary zen of wave riding. “I think surfing helped me more mentally, to be honest,” she reflects on the shift from football’s stress to surfing’s solace, “Here you’re alone, kind of, it’s like you can do whatever you want. It’s just, you know, it’s like you don’t need to rely on other people. And the community is nice, it feels like home.”
Surfer Girls Malta
In the lineup, Mariah finds a sisterhood among the female surfers, a supportive squad that’s all about cheers over competition, “They’re amazing. I love them. There’s no jealousy, there’s no competition, there’s just support,” she gushes, highlighting a camaraderie that’s as refreshing as a cool sea breeze.

Looking to the horizon, Mariah’s dreams are as vast as the Pacific, with Hawaii in her sights, “I really want to go to Hawaii,” she shares, her voice catching the stoke. This isn’t just a pipe dream; it’s a future swell she’s ready to ride, marking the next chapter in her story of resilience, creativity, and community.
Through injuries and icy detours, Mariah’s journey is a testament to living life on your own terms—whether you’re painting a surfboard or paddling out at dawn. For Bomba Surf Mag’s readers, she embodies the spirit of our salty tribe: adventurous, artistic, and always ready to drop into the next big adventure.
Mariah’s narrative weaves through recovery, creativity, and connection, a tale that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt the pull of the ocean or the push of a challenge. Her story isn’t just about catching waves; it’s about making waves in the worlds of surfing and art, proving that with the right attitude, even the biggest wipeouts can lead to epic comebacks.

So, whether you’re nursing your own injuries or dreaming of tropical barrels, take a leaf out of Mariah’s book: surf hard, paint your passions, and always, always support your crew—because that’s what the surf spirit is all about, and Mariah is riding that wave all the way to the shore, oh and along the way, why not use some of her own words. Here’s a dictionary to help you learn Mariah slang, Lilly!
Word | Meaning |
Ramel/ Laqx | When something is a disaster |
Qadsna l-lampa | Generic swearing |
Faqa | Great, both sarcastic and real |
Gejt gypss | When something awkward happens like bumping into your ex |
M’alla | Wow |
