Nazaré, Portugal – A former Love Island contestant might have just made history in the most terrifying way possible. Laura Crane, who starred in the hit reality show in 2018, surfed a gigantic wave on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Experts believe it could be a new world record.
The 30-year-old surfer from Devon, UK, took on the monster wave at Nazaré, a famous fishing village in Portugal known for having the biggest waves on the planet. While most people remember Laura for her time in the villa during Season 4, she was a professional surfer long before she appeared on TV. Now, she has returned to her roots to chase one of the most dangerous titles in sport.
A Race Against Time
The incredible moment happened just after the official “Nazaré Big Wave Challenge” competition had stopped for the day. Most surfers had packed up their gear as the sunlight began to fade. But Laura and her team decided to stay out in the water. She was being towed by a jet ski driven by her teammate, Antonio Laureano.
“It was a race against time,” Laura told reporters. She explained that the light was dying, but she saw one last opportunity. As the massive wall of water rose up behind her, she let go of the tow rope and rode down the face of the wave. Witnesses on the cliffs held their breath. The wave was so large it looked like a moving building.
When she safely reached the bottom, Laura burst into tears. She described the feeling as “pure happiness.” In an emotional interview, she said the ride felt like an “out-of-body experience” and that she was just trying to trust her training.
Beating the Record
The current world record for the biggest wave surfed by a woman belongs to Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira. She rode a 73.5ft (22.4 meters) wave at the same spot in 2020. Early estimates suggest that Laura’s wave might be even bigger.
Photographers who captured the moment were stunned. One photographer told Laura as she exited the water, “I don’t think you understand how big that wave was.”
However, confirming a record is not easy. It is not as simple as using a tape measure. A panel of judges and experts from Guinness World Records will now study the video footage and photos. They will use the height of Laura’s body to estimate the size of the wave. This process can take several weeks or even months.
From Villa to Victory
This achievement is even more impressive because Laura has had a tough year. Just a few months ago, she broke her ankle at this exact location. Many people thought she would not be ready to surf big waves again so soon. But Laura worked hard to recover.
Her journey from a reality TV star back to a top-level athlete has inspired many fans. She spoke openly about how hard it is to be taken seriously as a female surfer after being on a show like Love Island . With this wave, she has proven her critics wrong.
For now, Laura is just happy to be safe. Whether she gets the official record or not, she has already done something incredible. She has ridden a giant, and she has the pictures to prove it.
Incredible moment Love Island’s Laura Crane surfs ‘world record breaking’ wave
