Amira is an architect who lived in Panama City all her life…until she got hooked on surfing. Her first time was in 2006 in Australia, while she was doing an internship. Upon returning to Panama, she borrowed boards so she could spend time in the ocean catching waves. At 23 years old, her father finally showed his support of her dreams and gave her a surfboard. However, he quickly took it back after she devoted more time to surfing than to her studies. She completed her thesis a year later, making her family and herself proud. Her favorite graduation present was the return of her beloved surfboard.
Amira was unsatisfied in the city because she craved the beach, sand between her toes, sun on her skin, and clear blue ocean. She needed to find a way to combine her love of surfing, nature, design, painting, and creating. She moved into a surf shack in Cañas, near Venao, and started pursuing her dreams. A short time later, she bought a small farm in the town of Tonosi. She proudly grows her own vegetables and takes pride in creating something really special.
Amira loves to travel the world in search for waves and nice people. She has fully explored Panama as well as Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, California, Florida, and Brazil. The next countries on her list are Indonesia, Australia, and the Hawaii.
You can find Amira’s artwork on the Instagram and Facebook pages of Bongzaii. Her hand painted hats are popular all over Panama and she receives photos of her hats ‘round the world. Her most popular designs are of the surf breaks here in Panama.
Amira wants more girls in the lineup! She wants to pass her love of surfing on to you! She hopes to see you soon in the beautiful Pacific Ocean in Panama.
