Maya Gabeira has hit some of the biggest waves around, diced with death and is considered the best female big wave surfer of her generation – all by 24. She manages to balance the huge around the world surf trips with Red Bull and glamour shoots for GQ in her native Brazil.

Gabeira hit the headlines after she was nearly killed fighting the mountainous waves of Nazaré but she already has some giant wave scalps under her belt having slain Todos dos Santos, Mexico, one of deadliest waves in the world, and made her home in Waimea Bay – the cradle of big wave surfing.

She took up surfing when she got bored watching an ex-boyfriend from the beach and hit the waves herself. Since then she’s been showing that she’s not afraid to mix it with the biggest and best.

See more of Maya Gabeira at @mgabeira