Bucket list of Polish vlogger with Pinoy crew: Visit the Philippines

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – A Polish vlogger famous for wakesurfing in a dress and high heels is giving back to the Filipino community here by gracing graduations and a night market to help boost their impact on social media.

Karolina Agata Sankiewicz – whose content usually shows her surfing while being pulled by a boat crewed by Pinoys – also has this on her bucket list: a visit to the Philippines.

“Many members of my team are from the Philippines, including my boat captain and boat crew. We respect and value every culture, and I want to give back to the Filipino community in the UAE as they work very hard to support their families back home,” Sankiewicz said.

Sankiewicz – who admitted to having many Filipino friends – plans to do more surfing, TV work “and of course, a trip to the Philippines.”

Sankiewicz joined the 2025 Philippine Independence Day celebrations at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC); the recent graduation of the latest batch of students at Brilliant Mindz Training Institute (BMTI), a predominantly Filipino school here; as well as the Winter Night Market (WNM) which has mostly Filipino food and retail stalls.

In June, Sankiewicz drew mixed reactions from netizens when she surfed in a Filipiniana gown and heels while holding a Philippine flag, while the national anthem served as the video's background music.

Karolina Agata Sankiewicz, known as 'Surfing Barbie,' drew mixed reactions in June for this viral video of her surfing with the Philippine flag.

Surfing Barbie

Sankiewicz lived in Hawaii for six years before she moved to Dubai 13 years ago. She developed her love for the ocean and for surfing and wakesurfing in Hawaii.

“My surfboard is not attached to anything – there is no engine, no straps, and nothing connected to my legs. I surf behind a boat that creates the wave, and I ride it freely using balance and technique,” she said.

She is also known as Dubai’s “Surfing Barbie.” She came from a small town in Poland called Wabrzezno, a 2.5-hour drive away from Warsaw.

She has an MBA in International Business from the University of the West of Scotland. Upon her arrival in Dubai, her first job was as an office assistant in an investment firm.

From corporate world to catching waves

But she left the corporate world to go into surfing full-time.

She now works as a full-time content creator for her vlog, with an assistant and several agents helping her manage her social media accounts and a Filipino crew as well.

She has 1.5 million followers on Instagram, around 500,000 on Facebook and around 790,000 on TikTok.

Sankiewicz said she surfs because she loves the feeling of being on the board and catching the waves.

As her videos went viral, brands started looking her up, turning her passion into business.

“Most of my clients are major UAE brands such as noon, Instashop, UAE Lottery, Huda Beauty, and more. I also collaborate with American brands and have worked on campaigns for Maybelline New York, Nike, Urban Decay, and others,” she said.

Sankiewicz became a social media sensation in May 2023 when she traveled to Miami for her birthday. She uploaded a TikTok of her surfing in a bath robe, wearing Nike Jordans and carrying shopping bags.

It had 20 million views overnight. Sankiewicz said she was “shocked.”

“I left the corporate job as I was working in a corporate world for more than 10 years. I wanted to build something for myself, focus on what I love doing which is surfing and creating content. I am more of an artistic soul,” she said.

In May this year, Sankiewicz was awarded the WIBA Best Sports Influencer at the World Influencers and Bloggers Awards for her contribution to digital media. — JMA, GMA Integrated News