Malia Jones

Who Is Malia Jones?

Malia Jones is an American model, professional surfer, and entrepreneur. She was born on March 27, 1977, in Loma Linda, California. She is one of the most recognizable figures at the intersection of surf culture, fashion, and entrepreneurship.

Jones began surfing as a toddler in Hawaii. She went on to win a national surfing championship at 15. She then built a modeling career that put her on the covers of over a dozen magazines. Furthermore, she launched her own swimwear line that reached the shelves of luxury retailer Barneys New York.

Early Life: Born in California, Raised by Hawaiian Waves

Roots and Heritage

Jones was born in Loma Linda, California, and moved to Kailua, Hawaii, at the age of two. Growing up on the shores of Kailua — one of Hawaii’s most beautiful coastal communities — shaped her deeply.

Jones is of Hawaiian, Spanish-Filipino, German, and English descent. This rich multicultural background gave her a strong connection to the ocean and to Hawaiian culture from a very young age.

Her father is a dentist, and her mother is a nurse and marathoner — a family built on discipline, health, and achievement. These values would prove essential throughout Malia’s career.

A Toddler on a Surfboard

Malia began surfing as a toddler. The Hawaiian waves were not a playground for her — they were a classroom. She spent her early years mastering the ocean. By the time she was a teenager, she was already competing.

This early start gave her a technical advantage that most surfers spend years trying to build. It also gave her a relationship with the ocean that no competition result could ever define.

The Championship That Changed Everything

She began to surf competitively in her early teens, and at age 15 won the girls’ division of the United States Amateur Surfing Championship.

That win was the turning point. It announced to the surfing world that Malia Jones was not just a promising young athlete. She was a future star.

Surfing Career: From Local Competitions to the ASP World Tour

Rising Through the Ranks

After winning the US Amateur Championship, Malia’s competitive career accelerated quickly. She gained recognition on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) tour, where she showcased her exceptional skills.

She competed at the highest level of women’s surfing. Her competitive achievements include being named ASP Top 10 Female Surfer in 2001, a recognition that placed her among the very best female surfers in the world at that time.

A Career Spanning Two Decades

Malia’s professional surfing career spanned over two decades. Throughout that time, she participated in numerous national and international competitions. She represented the United States on the global stage. She inspired a generation of young female surfers who saw in her both athletic excellence and personal elegance.

Her progression from early waves to headline events illustrates how focus and adaptability can shape a lasting career in competitive surfing.

Modeling Career: From Surfing Magazine to Sports Illustrated

The Discovery That Launched a Dual Career

Surfing Magazine spotted her while she was competing and asked her to model for their swimsuit issue, and thus a second career was born.

This moment was unplanned. It was pure recognition of something undeniable. One competition appearance led to one modeling request. That request led to one of the most successful dual careers in sports and fashion history.

Magazine Covers and Major Campaigns

Since then, she has appeared on the cover of over a dozen magazines and has been named one of the “50 Most Beautiful People” by People magazine, and one of America’s “10 Sexiest Athletes” by Esquire. She has also been a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.

Many modeling agencies approached her. She landed her first modeling gig in Elle Magazine. Since then, Malia Jones has appeared on the pages of magazines such as Sports Illustrated, Esquire, Maxim, Space, and People.

These were not minor appearances. They were landmark features in the world’s most-read publications.

Television Commercials and Brand Partnerships

Jones has done TV commercials for American Express, Capri Sun, Coca-Cola, Corona Beer, and VO5 shampoo.

These campaigns placed her in living rooms around the world. They also demonstrated the commercial appeal of a woman who embodied genuine athleticism and natural beauty.

A Role in Lilo & Stitch

One of Malia’s most unique contributions to popular culture came through film. Jones was also a consultant for the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch.

Disney’s beloved animated film, set in Hawaii, drew on Malia’s authentic connection to Hawaiian surf culture to ensure its portrayal of island life felt real and respectful. This was not a cameo. It was a creative contribution. It reflects the depth of her cultural knowledge and her standing in the Hawaiian community.

Entrepreneurship: Building the Malia Jones Swimwear Brand

From Fitting Rooms to the Design Studio

After years of modeling and surfing in dozens of swimwear brands, Malia decided to create one of her own. Her motivation was simple and deeply personal.

“After modeling and surfing for 15 years, I’ve worn a lot of bikinis. But I always had a hard time finding the perfect fit. So I knew exactly what I wanted to make — something chic and timeless that you could wear in any country or season. And the cut and fit had to be impeccable,” she explained.

This was not a celebrity vanity project. It was a response to a genuine gap in the market, identified by someone who had spent a lifetime in swimwear.

The Launch and Growth of the Malia Jones Line

By 2016, the Malia Jones swimwear and apparel line was not only up and running — it was thriving. Most recently, it was added to the mix at luxury department store Barneys New York, a dream account for a designer at any level.

Landing at Barneys New York placed the Malia Jones brand in an elite retail company. It confirmed that her line was not simply riding her fame. It was succeeding on the merits of the product itself.

The collection includes swimwear basics in beautiful fabrics, neutral colors, and seasonal prints. It reflects the same philosophy Malia has always carried: simplicity, quality, and timeless fit.

Mambo Graphics Collaboration

She also designs a line of swimwear for Mambo Graphics sportswear — an iconic Australian surf and streetwear brand. This partnership gave her designs a global platform and connected her to one of the most recognized names in surf culture.

Personal Life: Love, Family, and Life in Hawaii

First Marriage: Conan Hayes

She married surfer Conan Hayes in 1999, then divorced. Conan Hayes is a respected name in professional surfing, and their relationship connected two of the sport’s prominent figures during that era.

Second Marriage: Luke Stedman and Son Spike

In 2007, she married Australian professional surfer Luke Stedman. In 2009, she gave birth to the couple’s son, Spike. Jones divided her time between Hawaii, France and Sydney, Australia.

During this period, Malia embraced an international lifestyle — splitting her time across three countries while continuing her modeling and surfing commitments.

Love Story With Alex O’Loughlin

Malia Jones and Alex O’Loughlin first met through mutual friends in 2011. Their connection was immediate. Both were deeply rooted in Hawaii. Both carried a quiet determination that kept them grounded despite their public profiles.

Her son with actor Alex O’Loughlin, Lion, was born in 2012. Jones and O’Loughlin married in Hawaii on April 18, 2014. They and their three sons — O’Loughlin’s son, O’Loughlin and Jones’s son, and Jones’s son from her previous marriage — live in Hawaii.

His current life is centered on being a devoted husband and father, enjoying the slow, peaceful rhythm of life in Hawaii. The enduring partnership between Alex O’Loughlin and Malia Jones is a rare example in Hollywood of a couple who successfully prioritized their personal life over professional fame.

Life in Hawaii Today

The designer surfs almost every day. She throws on one suit in the morning, goes into the ocean, comes home and works for a while, then heads back out. Sometimes she changes into four different suits in a single day.

That is not a curated lifestyle. That is a life built around authentic joy — the same ocean she first surfed as a toddler, still calling her back every single morning.