A Life Built On Strength, Courage, And Relentless Reinvention

When people talk about powerhouse athletes who shaped a generation, one woman always finds her way back into the spotlight: Gabrielle Reece. She didn’t just dominate professional volleyball. She built a lifestyle, a mindset, and a global movement centered around resilience, wellness, and the belief that evolving is not optional—it’s essential. Her life is a rare blend of athletic excellence, media influence, entrepreneurial fire, and deeply grounded family values. And today, she remains as compelling and influential as ever.

Let’s take a walk through her path—one shaped by grit, grief, reinvention, and an unstoppable drive to live fully and authentically.

From Island Childhood to Powerful Beginnings

Gabrielle Reece’s story begins on January 6, 1970. Born in La Jolla, California, she spent her earliest years surrounded by the tropical beauty of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Those sandy beaches, sunlit days, and salty breezes shaped her childhood and set the tone for the ocean-centered life she lives today.

But not everything was idyllic. When she was just five years old, her father, Robert Eduardo Reece, tragically died in a plane crash. For a child, that kind of loss leaves an imprint—a quiet ache that shapes how you see the world. Her mother, Terry Glynn, did her best, but life was unstable. Young Gabrielle spent several years living with family friends in Long Island, New York, before reuniting with her mother in the islands.

Eventually, the family moved to Florida. That move changed everything. High school brought her face-to-face with volleyball, a sport she didn’t expect to love—but once she started, she couldn’t stop. It became her anchor, her outlet, and her pathway to a future she hadn’t yet imagined.

The Making of a Volleyball Legend

By the time Gabrielle Reece reached Florida State University on a volleyball scholarship, she was already a force. She dominated the court with power, precision, and a level of intensity that set her apart. One statistic says it all: she still holds the FSU record for 747 career blocks. That number isn’t just impressive—it’s historic.

Her height, athleticism, and competitive fire earned her national attention. Soon after college, she launched into professional beach volleyball, where she became one of the sport’s most recognizable stars. She won multiple championships, landed massive sponsorship deals, and helped grow the visibility of women’s volleyball at a time when female athletes had far fewer opportunities.

But what made Gabrielle unforgettable wasn’t just the wins. It was her presence. She brought authority, confidence, and leadership to the sand—and inspired a whole generation of young athletes to believe that strength could be feminine and fierce at the same time.

Modeling, Media, and Gabrielle Reece’s Expanding Influence

Parallel to her volleyball career, Gabrielle Reece built a successful modeling and media presence. She appeared on magazine covers like Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Outside, Life, and Shape. She became the face of athletic beauty—strong, elegant, and unapologetically herself.

Television followed. Gabrielle hosted shows, lent her expertise to ESPN, and stepped into Hollywood with movie roles and sports commentary. She even voiced parts in documentaries and appeared on numerous talk shows. What made her media career thrive wasn’t just her appearance—it was her voice. Direct. Intelligent. Warm. Relatable.

Her books sealed that influence even further. Big Girl in the Middle shared her journey as a pro athlete, while My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper offered refreshingly honest insights about marriage, womanhood, and the unrealistic expectations society places on women. Readers gravitated toward her honesty, humor, and tough-love inspiration.

Family First: Building A Life Rooted in Love and Partnership

In 1997, Gabrielle Reece married big-wave surfing icon Laird Hamilton, and together they built a unique, unconventional, deeply intentional relationship. Their partnership is based on mutual respect, teamwork, and growth—qualities that both Gabrielle and Laird practice daily.

Their blended family includes three daughters, and Gabrielle often speaks about raising strong, resilient, curious young women. Between Hawaii and Malibu, the family splits time between the ocean and the mountains, emphasizing active living, gratitude, and connection.

Family is where Gabrielle finds grounding. Despite her fame, she has always put home first—balancing the demands of work with real-time parenting, community building, and creating rituals that make life meaningful.

Business, Wellness, and Gabrielle Reece’s Modern Empire

As Gabrielle transitioned out of professional volleyball, she didn’t slow down. Instead, she expanded into wellness entrepreneurship. With her husband, she co-founded Laird Superfood, a rapidly growing brand rooted in functional nutrition and natural ingredients.

She also helped create XPT Life, an elite performance training program focused on breathwork, mobility, strength, and recovery. Their methods—like cold plunges, heat therapy, and underwater workouts—have gained global traction and earned praise from top athletes and health enthusiasts.

In addition, Gabrielle developed her own fitness method called HIGHX, blending group training with functional, real-world movements designed for longevity and daily strength.

Her podcast, The Gabby Reece Show, explores topics like mindset, relationships, health, habits, and emotional resilience. Each episode offers insight into how to live a life that isn’t just strong—but intentional and deeply fulfilling.

Gabrielle Reece Today: Still Evolving, Still Leading

As of 2025, Gabrielle Reece remains a compelling voice in wellness and personal development. She continues to grow her businesses, host her podcast, lead workshops, speak at global conferences, and mentor younger athletes.

What makes her stand out is her approachability. She’s real about hard days. She’s honest about marriage. She’s open about growth, mistakes, recovery, and human complexity. Strength, for her, isn’t a trophy. It’s a daily choice.

And that mindset is exactly why people still look to Gabrielle Reece for inspiration nearly 40 years after she first stepped onto a volleyball court.

Conclusion

Gabrielle Reece’s story is one of resilience, evolution, and wholehearted living. From her childhood in the Virgin Islands to the courts of Florida State, from professional beach volleyball to media, entrepreneurship, and family, she has embraced every chapter with courage and intention. Her journey shows that true strength comes not from perfection, but from perseverance, honesty, and the willingness to reinvent yourself again and again.

She remains a model of what it means to build a powerful life—one shaped by love, curiosity, wellness, and purpose.