MTV Surf Girls

In the summer of 2003, MTV decided to pioneer the first all-woman surfing reality TV show. It started off on May 12, 2003, with a total of 14 contestants from all over the Americas. It ended on July 7, 2003, after announcing two winners in its two categories. These winners were thus given a chance to go professional with the sport they loved so much. In addition they also got the chance to accept modelling offers that were given to them by companies who hired surf girls for their magazines and newsletters.

The two categories for the competition were longboard and shortboard, with six and eight girls in each category respectively. The girls who won the competition were Jen Pollock for the shortboard category and Mary Osbourne for the longboard category. Jen Pollock was a college student also working as a waitress in Kailua, Hawaii, while Mary Osbourne was from Ventura, California. She was also a college student supporting herself by working as a waitress.

The other contestants included Kula Barbieto, who was a flight attendant from Ka'u, Hawaii. She was one of the younger contestants at 19 years old and belonged to the longboard category. Katie Thornton of the shortboard category was 21, and worked as a professional cheerleader in Athens, Georgia. She was eliminated in the 6th episode of the show.

Vivian Cordero, 22, worked as a DMS Controller in New Milford in New Jersey. She took part in the longboard category. Others such as Neva Massey, 19, from Rincon, Puerto Rico, dropped out early on in the show. She was a restaurant hostess and did not make it past the second episode.

Jenna Groshans and Molli Miller, both 18 years old, from Florida and California respectively, were high school students who took part in the competition.

Read more about Surfing Lifestyle or learn more about Women Surfers