I am a mermaid

I recently spoke with Jessica about her play, and our illuminating Q and A follows.

So what is your play, The Average-Sized Mermaid, about?
The Average-Sized Mermaid is a comedy about an outspoken kindergarten teacher who magically transforms into a mermaid and unexpectedly finds herself the figurehead of a feminist movement. But when she begins to fall for a school administrator (a man who may or may not put the “Prince” in “Principal”), she soon learns that you need to be careful what you fish for…

Have you always been attracted to mermaids? How do you explain their allure?
I’ve always had a fascination with them. I really can’t explain it. When I was little, my family took a trip to Copenhagen and we visited the Little Mermaid Statue, and I remember my dad lifting me up so that I could touch the mermaid’s tail. I was entranced because it looked like it was already beginning to split in two, like she was immortalized at the very moment when she’s exactly halfway between mermaid and human, land and sea… my five-year-old self found that to be very profound.

I also grew up in northern California, and there’s a great fountain in Ghirardelli Square featuring mermaids nursing mer-babies. Seriously, it’s awesome. I loved it. I loved it so much, in fact, that when my sixth grade teacher asked us all to write mystery stories for a class assignment, I was like, “Screw that. I’m going to write about what would happen if that mermaid fountain in Ghirardelli Square came alive at night!” So I guess the story ended up being a mystery in that it mysteriously had no relation to the assignment, but I still happen to think that it’s a pretty decent piece of writing!

My sister and I also used to sing a song in the pool that went a little something like this: “Swim like a mermaid/jump very high/jump like a dolphin/until you reach the sky!” We had a water-ballet worked out that went along with it and everything. We found ourselves delightful.

Mermaids have always been a presence in my life, so I guess it was inevitable that I’d eventually write a play about a mermaid!

How the play came into being?
I was taking a class in college that was called something like “Children’s Literature in Theory” but could have been more accurately titled, “Remember That Story You Enjoyed As A Child? Yeah, It’s Actually About How Women Should Learn Their Place/Female Sexuality Leads to Chaos and Destruction.” Being the twisted playwright I am, I saw comedic potential there: what if someone taught these stories to children while illuminating these themes in a completely inappropriate manner? I simply applied feminist theory, set Miriam in a kindergarten classroom, and viola! The opening scene was born.

After writing the opening, it seemed clear to me that Miriam had to reject Hans Christian Anderson’s story to the point that she pulls a reversal on the events in the plot: instead of giving up her tail to be with her love like the mermaid, Miriam acquires a tail in order to free herself from the desire from men.

You’ll have to see the play to see how it works out!

What made you write about a mermaid?
Honestly, I just kind of love the idea of a mermaid on stage. Except for the mermaid, the play actually lives in a fairly realistic world, so there’s something kind of wonderful to me about the fact that there’s this very intelligent woman who just happens to develop a fish tail, and what that does to her life and the lives of those around her.

Mermaids seem to be especially popular right now. Do you have any thoughts about why?
It’s so funny that you ask this question, because when Lady Gaga performed at a recent concert as a wheelchair-bound mermaid, about 500 people sent me the link saying “You started a trend!” Really, that credit goes to Bette Midler, but since we ALSO have a dance number from a wheelchair-bound mermaid, we’re definitely in good company!

Anyway, here is another pic of Kylee as one International Mermaid.

Admit that deep down, you feel that sash and that crown should be yours.

So Stephanie, what is the International Mermaid Pageant?
It’s the first and only “Mermaid-Themed” pageant event! This is the first one in Vegas. We will be doing these events all over the country for Mermaid enthusiasts, along with online-only events.

How will the contestants be judged?
This is a pageant, so contestants will be judged on personal style and stage presence…Audience appeal will also weigh heavily!

How can an aspiring mermaid pageant queen enter? What does she need?
We have all the information and sign-up forms on our web site, InternationalMermaid.com. There are two divisions, one being regular “pageant” or dressy attire and one for “Mermaid” wear. We are also allowing boys and men, should they want to compete!

What makes a pageant-worthy mermaid anyway?
Someone who loves the camera! The main prize the pageant offers is exposure, exposure and more exposure! Mermaids in advertising and in modeling is such a hot thing right now…

Can you tell me about your pageants at Weeki Wachee Springs?
Yes – We’ve been doing the Weeki Wachee Pageant since 1998 and have crowned many great queens and kings of all ages. They get to attend the functions that happen at Weeki as royalty. It’s a cool title to have!

What about Gasparilla?
Gasparilla, which is Pirate themed, is a HUGE DEAL. This year, becuse of my re-discovered love of Mermaid things, I am sure Mermaids will be infused heavily!

Have you always been a fan of mermaids?
Yes, especially since the birth of my older daughter. For the first several years of her life, she would play the VHS tape of The Little Mermaid (Disney’s version) at least once daily. Ariel was a part of our everyday vocabulary!

Check out these gorgeous photos (for the rest of Traci’s photo shoot, go here!):

Here is a bit more about Locketship:

Locketship is the whimsical jewelry line by colorful designer and vintage enthusiast, Maria Ewing. The label is known for its wide-range of handmade creations featuring original artwork and adorable photography. Locketship jewelry’s most unique aspect is its open-faced pendant, which encases photographs and artwork in a translucent epoxy resin. Lines have displayed a variety of images, from Persian cats and circus elephants to rainbow beads, bows, and glitter. Recently, Locketship garnered attention for its Giant Unicorn Necklace, an imaginative confection that has quickly become its signature piece. Locketship’s best-selling lines are the The Unicorn Princess Collection and The Kitty Collection.

All Locketship jewelry is hand-crafted by Maria in her Los Angeles home. An alumna of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, L.A., she graduated in 2004 in Product Development. Her creative talents include fashion design and her artistic pursuits include drawing and painting. She has gained notice for her outrageous outfits and vintage finds. Maria’s creativity drives Locketship through her uncanny eye for detail, designing and creating pieces that range from eye-catching and unconventional to playful and glittering. Locketship jewelry has always been about embracing the magic from life.

As for mermaids, Maria says:

Meanwhile, my Q and A with the lovely Kylee is below!

So how did you become a Weeki Wachee mermaid?
In 2007 I started working for Weeki Wachee in the gift shop. I had always dreamed about being a mermaid and would come to the park and watch the shows over and over again. I worked with some amazing women in the gift shop, Jill Roddis and Susan Ogilvie, and they encouraged me to follow my dreams and try out to be a mermaid. I had long blonde hair and I had extensive dance training since the age of three. Jill and Susan said to me those are things they look for in a mermaid. I was hoping that those qualities and the fact that I love to swim would help me. I was very lucky to get an audition, as there are thousands of girls that try out and apply to be a mermaid every year. However, I soon found out in the audition that there are more factors that play a role when trying out to be a mermaid, like having breath control (very important), and being able to open your eyes underwater and smile while looking like you know what you are doing.

But I was very lucky and made the cut in 2009. I became a trainee; you have to go through the proper steps to be awarded the title of MERMAID. First, you must be scuba certified, and then you must train for many months learning choreography, technique and how to breathe on the air hose. When you get approved to be in a show you usually play sister three in The Little Mermaid (one of the two shows at Weeki). Then you have to keep learning different roles in the show (sister two, Chester the Turtle and then the Witch) and then you have the other show we do with different choreography called Fishtails, for which you must learn to eat and drink in the water.

During this time you are moved up from training status to Novice Status. This is where you take a written test and must past a skill test with the head mermaid. Then you move on to play more parts in Fishtails and learn more choreography and then the dangerous deep dive that’s at the climax of the show, then finally you get to learn to play the little mermaid herself. But you are still not considered Mermaid Status. At that stage you must complete another written test, make up your own choreography and develop a new underwater mermaid move, and be CPR certified and First Aid Certified. Once you test in front of your fellow mermaids, the head mermaid and guests, you will can finally be awarded the title of a FULL FLEDGED WEEKI WACHEE MERMAID. For some, it takes years to accomplish this task and some mermaids never even make this status and quit being a mermaid. For me I feel very blessed! I worked and worked and put in extra time and practiced and was able to become mermaid status on September 22, 2010.

Can you tell us about a typical day at Weeki?
I am usually an opener, I like to be the first one at work and help the other girls. I arrive around 9:00 in the morning and I pick up all the tails from the last show the day before that are on the drying rack and put them away to start off our new day. Then I check to see if any of our tails or tops need to be repaired and repair them if needed. We always wear tights under our tails to help keep us warm and to help with quick changes during the show. So I also put away a lot of tights too from the drying rack. I have to check the Ponies (this is what we use as safety air in the airlock) to make sure they have air and are in the right location before swimming in any show. I go into our underwater theater and check to make sure it is clean and then wipe down all of the windows in theater, so that guests get to enjoy the mermaid show with no hand prints. Then it’s time to get ready for the show. This is when all mermaids performing discuss what color tails we are wearing and find out the show schedule and who gets to play what part in the show. Then it’s make-up time for all of the performing mermaids. Depending on what part you play in the show depends on the style of make-up you apply. The witch mermaid gets a totally different look of make-up then the rest of the mermaids. Then its show time and we perform for 30 minutes underwater in temp of 74.2 degrees. When a show is over we remain in the water and do our chores, like underwater cleaning and setting up our hoses for the next show. Then we get to get out of the water and get in the showers. Warm up a bit and then repeat. This happens three times a day 365 days a year. I love being a mermaid!

Can you share some interesting opportunities you’ve had as a Weeki mermaid?
My favorite opportunities are the wonderful PR’s we go on to all the different places, such as private parties, the local Tampa Boat Show, and store grand openings and aquarium events. But the best place I ever visited as a mermaid was the Georgia Aquarium (the world’s largest aquarium), where I had a very unusual experience with a very large, let’s say massive, whale shark. We had just arrived at the aquarium to train for the special Christmas show. We were learning all of the special things you must know when you swim with dangerous sharks and manta rays, and all the aquarium rules. I got in the water and started to practice when a beautiful whale shark took my hose right out of my hand. The rescue diver tried to bring me air. But I had to surface as I had swallowed way too much water and could not get a breath of air. It was an experience that at the time was a little scary, but turned for me into a love of the special whale sharks. They seemed to want to protect me and stay close to me when I performed. I really enjoyed the opportunity and hope to be able to go back again next year.

[Check out this video recording Kylee’s run-in with a whale shark!]

How/when did you become Mrs. Weeki Wachee?
I was titled Mrs. Weeki Wachee 2011 this year on March 6. I entered in the pageant that was held at the Weeki Wachee Mermaid Theater. There were two categories we were judged on: Swimming Suits and Formal Gown.

Have you been in, or do you plan to be in, other pageants?
Yes, I have been in other pageants and held other titles. In 2008 I was crowned Miss. Teen Ybor City. In 2009 I was crowned as Miss Hernando County. In 2010 I was Titled Miss Gasparilla Ultimate Grand Supreme and also took the Talent Title as I performed one of my competitive dance solos and won Gasparilla Calendar Girl Model. I won KAR title this year as Mrs. Photogenic and will be featured in 2012 KAR Program. I also was a professional signed model for three years with an exclusive signed contract with the modeling agency Michele Pommier Management of Miami Beach, Florida.

Can you tell me about some of the exciting stuff you have coming up?
This week is the awesome First Ever Mermaid Event in Las Vegas! This Thursday August 11, is the amazing Author signing and Mermaid Ball at the Rainbow Boulevard Las Vegas Barnes & Noble at 7:00 pm; I will be there talking about my experiences. On Friday, August 12, is the Mer-Con, the International Mermaid Pageant (in which I’ll be a contestant), and the World Mermaid Awards, all at the Silverton. And then on Saturday, August 13th, I have a photo shoot with the fabulous Susan Knight, followed by the VIP Mermaid Pool Party.

Also, there are a few magazine interviews that you will soon see me in, and I have an interview for a documentary. I also have a very exciting PR next month with Weeki Wachee that I have been choreographing. It’s a special dance that has six of the Weeki Wachee Mermaids performing. And then of course I am working on extra practices because Weeki Wachee offers an exciting Halloween Event with a night time underwater show and a dry dance performance in the underwater theater stage. These are very unique shows and change ever year with a new theme. If you have never seen a Mermaid Show at night in the Underwater Spring you really need to come. It is always a wonderful show.

Why do you think mermaids are so popular, anyway?
I feel this is our year, The MERMAID year! I think vampires have been done (Twilight) and Wizards (Harry Potter). The public needs a new magical mysterious icon and Mermaids are it! I believe we are something people have always dreamed about and have loved. Folklore has been told about mermaids, their magic and the connection with sea. Now people want to embrace it themselves and experience mermaids.

So how did you become a mermaid?
When I was a little girl and saw the movie Splash, I knew instantly that I was meant to be a mermaid. Something about Madison’s outsider perspective on human society and her understanding of the depths of the ocean just resonated with me. I used to spend hours with my little sister Wendy in the pool, hot tub, rivers, lakes (or really any puddle of water we could fit into) trying to swim with our legs together. We used to attempt to go underwater and communicate with each other using the high-pitched screeching call that Madison used in the Bloomingdale’s department store scene when she blew up all the TV sets. It was really quite funny… until we both got really bad cases of swimmer’s ear, that is! I think as of that summer, we were both reborn as mermaids.

What attracted you to mermaids?
I think there are several levels of attraction for me. For one, it is an escape fantasy. I had a pretty tough childhood and liked to pretend that I lived in another world, rather than deal with my own reality. At the time I first saw Splash, my parents were getting divorced and my Mom was remarrying to a man that I didn’t approve of and moved us away. I lost all of my friends that I grew up with in Sacramento, and being shy, had a hard time meeting and trusting new people. It was a lot easier to create my own fantasy; one where I knew secrets that others do not. I think we can all agree that when we have a hard day, there is nothing better than just swimming away from your cares, and a secret life as a mermaid definitely allows me that.

Secondly, mermaids have an advantage as being able to cross into two worlds; one where they breathe air on land and in the other, water. They have knowledge of the deep, dark depths of the ocean and her mysterious creatures. They know the ecology and terrain of both worlds, and can serve as a translator between the inhabitants of both sides; aquatic and land. This to me is equivalent of being a wildlife interpreter or a park ranger, except of the oceans.

Thirdly, there is an undeniable magical quality about them and an innocence that cannot be breached. That is something that I strive for in my own life, and being a mermaid has definitely helped me to tap into it.

Have you always identified as a mermaid?
Yes, I think I have since I was about nine years old. At that time it was more of a play fantasy that was imagined, or drawn on paper when I was alone. It wasn’t until I met my boyfriend (now husband of 16 years) Chris that I really started embracing it culturally. I remember when we first started dating that the subject of mermaids came up, and how shocked and amazed that he was as enthusiastic about them as I was. It really felt like when Tom Hanks’ character meets Madison for the first time, and then later realizes that she saved him from drowning as a child. In a way I think our relationship parallels theirs, in that we both have nurtured each other’s love for mermaids and the ocean and it has just grown over time. He helped me to make my first tail when I was sixteen on his mother’s sewing machine, and then saved me from drowning in it in his neighbor’s pool, as it was not swimmable at all! He drove me to San Francisco to get fabric for my second tail in the days before online purchases, and has been my number one supporter, photographer and confidant all these many years. He encouraged me to meet Linden Wolbert of Mermaids in Motion for some inspiration last spring and to finally purchase my Mertailor tail at long last. We really have saved each other from our respective realities and have created our own, submerged in mer-culture. Over the years, we have amassed so many mermaid artifacts that our house could almost be considered a mermaid museum.

I understand you are very passionate about ocean conservation and other environmental issues. Can you tell me about that?
My undergraduate degree is in Conservational and Organismal Biology, so I am trained as a field biologist. I see myself as an independent observer of ecology, and human’s affects on it. I do not believe that humans have dominion over the Earth; we just act as though we do. We have changed the ecosystem to suit ourselves without ever considering the effects to other species. Then we nominally mitigate our bad deeds and pat ourselves on the back for it in the name of conservation, but that all it is… mitigation, not prevention. This is one reason that Chris and I decided early on not have children; we don’t want to perpetuate the human problem. That might sound strange to many, but when you look at it from the larger perspective of the planet’s health, reducing the population is the only sustainable mechanism we have. We humans are a virus on this Earth, and whether we are conscious of it or not, each of us is consuming resources that we can never hope to replace in the larger scheme of things. I know it sounds harsh, but that is my honest opinion on the species. I guess I am sort of an all-or-nothing person, for better or worse.

My Master’s degree is in Electronic Education, so I am hoping to incorporate adult learning theory and an interest in mermaids to help educate the masses through my blog, A Mermaid’s Journey. Through this blog, I can take a light-hearted approach to the serious issues that keep me up at night and hopefully gain interest in conservation through reading them. I try to cross-post my blog entries as notes on my Facebook page also to try and get more viewers through electronic media. Each of us can make a difference, and my gift is sharing knowledge. I want people to know that I am more than just a “girl in a tail,” I am an actual biologist and a concerned inhabitant of our planet. If just one person reads it and learns something, then I am a happy mermaid. I would like to share the joy and sadness that I feel when I observe phenomena around me, and hope that I can bring some understanding; to hold hands with you while we watch our ecosystem win or lose. It’s all in our hands.

Can you tell me about your mermaid store and what you sell?
I do have a web-store with items made from our photos. The store sells ceramic coffee mugs, t-shirts, magnets and note cards. Nothing too fancy, but 10% of the proceeds are going to be donated to the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation (our local lagoon preservation charity) to support the good work that they are doing, in these times of State Department budget cuts.
More recently, I have decided to share my husband Chris’ photography skills and my love of mermaids to start offering mermaid transformation photo/video shoot packages. This is something new that we are taking on and will be donating 10% of the proceeds to Surfrider Foundation, to assist them in their public education of shore issues worldwide. For details on how to be transformed, visit http://www.mermaidshelly.com/#!transformations or contact me at mermaidshelly@gmail.com.

Will you be attending the World Mermaid Awards?
Absolutely, I wouldn’t miss it for the world! The WMA and MerCon are organized by a longtime mermaid friend of ours, Sita Lange. I have been a fan of Sita’s work for a very long time and was lucky enough to get to work with her as a mermaid for her website, MauiMermaids.tv. My husband was her web editor for the site also, so we are really excited to get to come out and support her once again.

What do you think about mermaids’ current popularity?
I think it is wonderful; the more the merrier! And hopefully now people won’t think I am crazy when they see Chris and I out on the beach taking photos in my tail. Sometimes people come up to us and ask what we are doing and if we are doing photos for an advertisement, etc. and it always makes me laugh… why don’t they understand that we do it just for the love of mermaids and the ocean? I hope that now they will be more inclined to understand that.

Have you attended any especially interesting mermaid events and/or places?
I think the most interesting mermaid adventures I have had thus far (aside from the upcoming WMA) is being transformed by Sita Lange for Maui Mermaids. We travelled to Hawaii’s Big Island for our first photo shoot and to Maui for a second one. Oh the fun we had! She knows those islands like the back of her hand and it is wonderful to be with someone local and have them show you the most amazing, secluded beaches. On our first shoot outside of Hilo, we went to a beach that was so deserted we literally had to climb down giant Pothos vines to get down the cliffs. At the base we found pristine black sands, a waterfall with a small pool just perfect for a mermaid to take photos in. Sita really has the pulse of the islands flowing through her veins. I will never forget those days as long as I live.

Thought you’d seen everything in Vegas? Think again!

MERMAID AUTHORS

and

the world’s foremost mermaid

HANNAH FRASER

at the Rainbow Blvd Barnes and Noble!

Mermaids are everywhere in the media right now—and next weekend they’re coming to Las Vegas in droves for MerCon and the World Mermaid Awards (August 12-13th). And to celebrate, Barnes and Noble will be hosting a fabulous mermaid signing and mermaid ball, with guests including the world’s foremost mermaid Hannah Fraser—who’s coming in straight from swimming with sharks in the wild!—Weeki Wachee mermaid Kylee Trochee, International Mermaid Pageant proprietor Stephanie Sims, World Mermaid Awards host Sita Lange, Aquatails owner Jerilyn Winstead, and many more shimmering mermaid guests!

Our fabulous mermaid authors include: Carolyn Turgeon, whose latest novel Mermaid was recently optioned by Sony Pictures, making it one of two little mermaid projects currently in development (Country Strong’s Shana Feste is set to write and direct); award-winning poet Matthea Harvey, who published her first mermaid poem in The New Yorker last summer, and has been writing about mermaids ever since; Tera Lynn Childs, award-winning author of teen mermaid tales Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever; award-winning novelist Timothy Schaffert, who published his first mermaid story, “Mermaid in the Tree,” in the fairytale anthology My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me, last year; and Tempest Rising author Tracy Deebs.

Listen to mermaid readings, get your books signed, learn how to be a better mermaid… and come in mermaid garb and win prizes!

# # #

When:
Thursday, August 11, 7pm

Below, I talk to Mermaid Iona about her own mermaidliness and what makes a young merfairy start an online forum when there are so many oceans to traverse and princes to woo. (My interview with Malinghi will appear here soon as well.) Our Q and A follows.

So when did you become a mermaid?
Like many of us, my mermaid journey started when I was a little girl. Inspired by The Little Mermaid, Splash, and the Weeki Wachee showgirls, the passion of a mermaid was in me for as long as I can remember. As a child whenever I had access to water I could swim in, I spent all day in the water it was quite hard to get me out! I would swim around the pool pretending I was a mermaid, or even pretend to “float” around the house and make believe I was at the bottom of the ocean. I needed no imagination in the ocean, I felt one with it.

The passion was always there, but I didn’t find out how to really embody my passions until about four years ago. One day I was surfing the web and I stumbled upon a YouTube clip of Freshwater Mermaid swimming in her vinyl tail. I was astonished and overjoyed that having a tail you could swim in was actually possible! I got a monofin as soon as I could, right in time for my move to California. I delved into the net, searching for everything having to do with “real” mermaids- which back then was a rare find. Four months later I had a gorgeous fabric tail made by Mermaid Jewel. My first swimming in the tail felt so natural to me, and magical. I knew then that I wanted to try and learn more about all kinds of different mermaids, tails, and to try and connect with others who shared my passion. Years later I own three tails— two latex/neoprene and one spandex—and the mermaid community has evolved and keeps growing!

What other mermaids inspire you?
There are so many wonderful inspiring mermaids established and coming out of the waves, if you will. Each one I find inspires me in a different way. Hannah Fraser for her fearlessness, determination, and passion for the environment; Medusirena for her performance capabilities; Mermaid Raven (of Merbellas) for her awe-inspiring creations. creativity, and drive; Raina the Halifax Mermaid for her passion of educating the young and old on the health of our planet and how it effects our health, as well as her kind and grounded nature in the community. Also all the numerous merfolk that take a stand for our environment, spreading awareness and working to make changes for the better. Lastly, all of the merfolk that use mermaiding/mermanning to push themselves and live the dream despite any conditions or disabilities.

What appeals to you about mermaids?
There is of course the aspect and air of freedom when I think about merfolk—over 70% of earth is covered by the ocean, with its seemingly infinite depths. Not only is there freedom in the vastness of the ocean, but in what I think is the thing that most appeals to me about them—a mer’s sense to be true to themselves. A mermaid’s heart wants what a mermaid’s heart wants, and we refuse to ignore that. We are all unique individuals and reject the idea of being “cookie cutter” (despite what Disney may lead you to believe), but rather to embrace what we want and who we want to be, no matter what anyone says. It shows in our unique tails and accessories, our personalities, our opinions, and our actions. It’s great to see how this reflects on each mermaid or merman as they appear in the community, I must say!

Are you as into fairies as you are mermaids? Do your mermaid and fairy identities clash at all, or are they one and the same?
Fairies and mermaids both have been a passion for me for as long as I can remember. I discovered the vast fairy community around the same time that I discovered the merfolk community. I decided to give myself a separate name for my identity, as most mermaids and fairies do. I thought to myself, “I’ve always loved both- why should I have to only pick one?” Even the mermaids that had fae identities had separate names for each, but I decided to combine mine—thus Wingéd Mermaid Iona.

Sometimes my identities clash, but it’s less mental and more physical. I have a deep love for both water and earth, ocean and forest. Sometimes the love or yearning for one is stronger than the other and they often switch off. When I lived in a mountain state I loved and enjoyed the forest but I felt like I was going to go crazy if I didn’t get to the ocean! Now living near the ocean I enjoy it but I do miss the forests. I’ve found it’s all about finding balance, like everything else in life. Otherwise, I find that the identity and sense of self of a mermaid and a fairy fit quite well together.

Do you identify as a mermaid all the time.. or do you slip in and out of your mer self?
To me, a mermaid is just part of who you are. It’s my love for all bodies of water, from the ocean to small creeks; it’s my it’s my love for the ocean and it awe-some beauty, depths, and fantastic creatures; it’s my love for the environment and all animals; in my love for fantasy and the magical feeling that comes along with being a mermaid. I don’t think I could ever slip out of being a mermaid—I really feel like it’s rooted in me as part of what I am. However, as I come more into my public mermaid identity I do find myself separating from my personal identity, if only a little, to help more of my inner self and confidence show through.

Can you tell me about MerNetwork (formerly MerYuku) and the merfolk community generally?
Mer Yuku was born out of what I felt was necessity in order to connect with other merfolk. Back several years ago most mermaids were on Myspace—however it was hard to actually connect on a more interactive level with people. The reason Malinghi and I ended up as partners together was because he said I was the only one who wrote back when he messaged me. Myspace started phasing out and more and more people were leaving but had yet to resurface anywhere else. Malinghi and I stayed in touch, and I mentioned that I wish I there was a place where the mefolk community could come together and interact. There was also the matter that there were no places where people could find public reviews on tail makers—which I think is pretty important considering that they range from $120-$6,000, and you can’t see them in person before buying. I wasn’t very optimistic about the ability to create or the potential success of such a place, but Malinghi urged me to work to make it a reality. Together we decided to create a forum—we looked through hosts together, created the forum, and promoted to all our merfolk friends. It started out slow, but then exploded with active members and all kinds of information! The community formed and we have all shared, grown, and learned together, through good and bad!

As the community grew we decided that we needed more space, freedom, and security to let the community spread it’s fins. The new site has more features, freedom, and control to help us help the community be all it can be!

I must say MerYuku was more successful than I could have hoped for, and MerNetwork now has even more potential! Many mers are now surfacing on Facebook, but MerNetwork still has and serves its purpose.

How have you seen this community change and evolve (if you have)?
I would say one of the big players in the evolution would be the ability to have public reviews. One of my main goals for MerYuku was to be able to be able to post open and honest reviews of products and experiences with tail makers. Before this there weren’t that many people who had professionally made tails, let alone the neoprene and/or latex ones. Any one that did was very “hush hush” about it, like they didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes.

After review sections were made available people started coming out one by one and posting. There was a LOT of drama following all this. There were makers exposed for having a less than quality product and customer service, and makers exposed for being scam artists. One even attacked MerYuku in an attempt to have the negative reviews and comments deleted from the forum. In the end through awareness of the community the scam artist has seemingly given up his efforts to get “customers”, and the other has hopefully started to learn the importance of listening to feedback from their customers and from the community.

Another thing that has evolved the mer community is the ability to share the ins and outs of DIY merfolk fashion, from tails to accessories. One mermaid arrived on the scene and inspired a huge change in both. Mermaid Raven (of Merbellas) is famous for leading the DIY neoprene and latex mer tail movement, as well as inspiring and helping the rest of us with her beautiful accessories. Before it was all about the tail. Now more and more mermaids are looking to purchase, make, and even sell their own wonderful accessories in an effort to pull together their own individual looks and mer personality!

Lastly, just the ability to have a lot of the merfolk in once place sharing information, opinions, inspiration, and passions leads to continuous evolution in the community. We had been toying with the idea of meet-ups for a while, and now we have the Wold Mermaid Awards! Also the Merfolk Pods, introduced at MerNetwork.com, are in beginning stages. We hope that this will encourage more meet ups and a better sense of community for everyone. It’s an amazing thing to see. There are ups and downs, and as in any community there will always be drama, but all in all it’s amazing what we can do when we stand together!

Would you say there is a mer movement happening? If so, how do you see this movement further evolving?
I think there may be several. Some small, some big.

As tails become more available and affordable, more and more merfolk are appearing on the scene, young and old. This movement started years ago, but is building more and more momentum as it goes. Similarly, as more and more people get tails and are inspired by others, more and more professional mermaids and mermen are establishing themselves. I believe this will continue with more momentum as it goes as well.

I think there may also be a movement coming where mefolk are not only interactive with each other online, but in person. In the past most mers keept to themselves, as mostly it’s hard to find others in the same vicinity. As more mers take up their tails, it will be easier to find ones close. But more than that, most people are pretty hesitant in meeting up casually with one another if they’ve only met and talked online. I think the WMAs is going to serve as a huge ice breaker for this community. Once people meet and see what fun it can be with other merfolk (and know that they’re not creepy stalker people, haha) I think smaller meet ups will be more common. Hopefully we’ll see Pod meet ups all over the country follow!

Lastly, some have been saying that mermaids are due to be the next “big thing”, replacing vampires and werewolves. I think that this is most likely a correct prediction, but it’s unsure how quickly this will come into being mainstream, or how far people will take it. I am also unsure how this may effect the merfolk community and what we stand for, but only time will tell.

How do people respond to you as a mermaid where you live?
Here in California people are generally pretty open minded. When swimming in public pools I get mostly neutral and positive responses from people. Some will try not to stare and just try and ignore me, but most people will come up and ask me about my tail. The most common response is, “Wow, that’s really cool!”. I’ve had a few negative encounters, but they were the kind of people who don’t have any respect for anyone, let alone a mermaid. The best reactions come from small children- they’re so interested and mystified by my tail and how I swim! The sparkle in their eyes and looks on their faces is priceless! They often ask to touch it, and if I’m Ariel or know Ariel. Often times as soon as kids see my tail I am instantly dubbed “Ariel!”, even if I’m walking out in public with the tail on my shoulder (to/from the pool). I have yet to take my tail to the beach, but plan to here soon for some photo shoots. I’m sure I’ll get some double takes and questions from curious adults and kids alike!

In the meantime, please pretend it is still June, and listen as I talk with Ms. Oakes about her diabolical plots and schemes:

So how did the Sacramento Mermaid Parade come about? What inspired it?
Earlier this year, I was talking with my hair stylists (Magic & Mason, owners of Magic Salon) about the Coney Island Mermaid Parade… I had marched in it in 2000 and I was thinking about going back East and marching in it again. They had never heard of it, and were really interested… Before I knew it, we were planning our own parade here in Sacramento! Between the three of us, we have LOTS of creative friends, so before long, we had a planning committee, a logo, a website, and fliers!

Have mermaids (and mermen) become a real presence in Sacramento since Dive Bar opened (or did it start before that)?
Well, Hamburger Pattie’s (Hamburger Mary’s) has always had beautiful mermaids hanging in their restaurant, but other than them and the Dive Bar, I don’t know of any other mermaid themed places in Sacramento… I have always loved mermaids, and the parade in Coney Island is something to be seen! We had heard about the Dive Bar opening up and thought originally that it would be a good idea to tie them into our parade, but then we decided to just keep it as DIY and homegrown as possible for the first year, so we don’t have any sponsors except for our friends that are business owners and are supplying the prizes, Magic Salon, Phono Select and Dimond Makeup.

What do you have planned for the parade?
We’ve chosen our parade route in Old Sacramento, and are collecting registration forms from lots of people who plan to march. The parade will be led by our Grand Marshall, Ms. Debora Iyall (of Romeo Void), our Queen Mermaid, Ms. Heidi Ho, and our King Neptune, DJ Shaun Slaughter. Prizes will be awarded for best costume in both adult and children’s categories by our Grand Marshall!

What can parade-goers expect?
They can expect a really fun day, and to see a lot of super great, colorful and creative costumes! This will definitely be a fun, family friendly event and an awesome photo opportunity!

Will you be marching? =)
OF COURSE!!! I’m wearing a version of the costume that I wore when I marched in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade!

What kind of support have you gotten from the city and local businesses and so on?
I haven’t received much support from the city or local businesses (other than our three sponsors), but to be honest, I don’t have enough experience or time to obtain support or gather sponsorships. Hopefully someone else involved will take on that responsibility for next year!

What has the response been?
The response has been very positive so far, and I think it will be a good time for everyone involved! We have received registrations from Folsom, Bakersfield, Cameron Park, North Highlands, Chico, and Rio Linda, as well as Sacramento. We have a Brownie Troop registered, and have also been contacted by the Pirates of Sacramento – the Crewe of the Crimson Delta!

Here’s Linden on the Today Show a couple months ago:
 

 
And here she is last summer on the 20/20, where she appeared with Hannah Fraser.
 

 
Amazing, right? Here is our Q and A:

How long have you been a mermaid?
Always. 🙂 In fact, I have a theory that I was a fish in a past life….and transitioning into my human form this time around was too difficult. Clearly, I had no choice but to make myself into a half-fish, half-human creature as a result! I actually started mermaiding in earnest in 2005. Thus began the creation of my mermaid tail, which was something like “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” meets “The Never Ending Story” with a splash of “The Abyss” if you catch my drift 😉 Wow. Not an easy task. But it was beyond worth it!!! (Special shout out thanks to Allan Holt, my amazing Special Effects artist!!!) With this incredible one-of-a-kind 35 pound silicone appendage, I can now move freely about the ocean, or a swimming pool, with relative ease and speed. 🙂

How did you get your start professionally?
I was working in an office job from 9-5 and on-call 24 hours a day. I found it challenging because all I could do was dream of diving. Lunch breaks were spent watching underwater footage online and dreaming myself into those magical aquatic places, and every moment outside of work possible was spent underwater. As much as I LOVED life in a cubicle, I decided to quit my “real job” to pursue my dreams in the ocean. With visions dancing in my head of educating children about ocean conservation, underwater exploration and water safety, exotic travel and meeting other ocean-minded people, I headed tail-first into my dreams. Since I was a competitive swimmer, avid SCUBA diver and a freediver (breath hold diver) long before I became a mermaid, I fell naturally into the role once I made my mind up to do it. Thanks to lengthy and dedicated training I can hold my breath for over 5 minutes and dive to 100 feet down and back on a single breath of air….almost deeper than I’ve SCUBA dived! I have yet to hit my limits as a freediver, which is very exciting when it comes to mermaiding. I feel more and more like a “real” mermaid the better my diving gets. I am a mermaid with a message from the oceans….and hopefully the realistic nature of my mermaid appearance captures people’s attention long enough to listen and become as enchanted with the sea as I am.

Have you always loved mermaids?
Absolutely. Being a water baby from a very young age, I naturally, like all you other sweet aspiring mermaids and mermen out there reading this right now, dreamed I had a tail when I was swimming. Being a proud member of the “Little Mermaid” generation, I can promise you my family involuntarily learned all of the lyrics to every song in that movie WITH me. I wore out the VHS tape of that Disney film. Yes, yes I did 🙂 My love for all things ocean encouraged my fascination as well. I don’t think I could have predicted at age 8 that I would BECOME a professional mermaid. The idea still tickles me, even though it’s my reality now. Sometimes I still marvel at the whole process. My parents have been an amazing source of support through all of this. I mean, really….how many parents would believe (and whole-heartedly encourage) their adult daughter when she says she wants to become a full-time mermaid after going through four years of film school and having just left a secure job behind??? *Thanks, Mums and Daddy!*

What do you think the appeal of mermaids is to ordinary humans?
Well we’re halfway there already, aren’t we? We’re SOOOOO close to being merpeople in our current state as humans – especially if we have a good level of comfort in the water. Slap on a pair of fins or a monofin, hop in the water and….POOF! You’re practically a siren! Mermaids are spellbinding and enigmatic. They often have long hair and fair skin. They swim like a dolphin and possess the beauty and grace of the sea. They are adorned with pearls and gems from shipwrecks, and frolic about the ocean keeping their eyes and fins peeled for unsuspecting seafaring men who are voyaging to and fro. They leave a feeling of being unattainable in their wake, further raising their appeal. They sing haunting songs on rocks while their luminous tails glisten in the sun. What’s not to love? I also believe that because they are so elusive, humans become fixated when mermaids are in their presence; trying to catch a good glimpse of them for fear they may disappear….

What kind of events and film/television work, etc., have you done as a professional mermaid?
All sorts. Everything from ocean charity events to crazy celebrity parties in Hollywood. School lessons for elementary children about sea critters (my favorite!) to promotional poolside parties. Pool time play dates for kids to being an ambassador for swimming safety at water parks and the Caribbean islands. This is one of the most unpredictable jobs in the world….you just never know what will come up next! Life can change with a simple email or phone call. I feel ridiculously lucky and grateful to have been featured by a bunch of great news outlets over the past several years that have expanded my opportunities and my message tenfold. My favorite work, by FAR, is with children. Since this entire passion was born in me as a youngster, I wish to pass that opportunity on to the kids I have the privilege of coming into contact with. You should see their sweet faces….the wonder they experience…it is so rewarding. It makes all of the hard work worth it every time 🙂 Also, keep a close eye on my website in the coming days. Something new and exciting is about to surface!!!

And how do people tend to respond to you as a mermaid (as opposed to in regular human form!)?
When I am a mermaid, all I see are miles of smiles around me 🙂 Really. At every given moment. It is truly a gift. I hope I make people smile when I’m “wearing my legs” too….I’m just as bubbly out of my tail as I am in it….

I understand you trained all the mermaids (and mermen) at the newly opened Dive Bar in Sacramento. Can you tell me about that? What makes a good mermaid or merman?
Yes. I generally don’t “train” mers, but this was a really unique and fun opportunity! The guys and gals of Dive Bar were a blast to work with. They have an awesome opportunity to get all mythical…in the middle of a metropolitan area! The space is really unique and beautiful. I really just helped them find their inner mers. Relax in the water. Be comfortable in a tail and learn to be one with it. Open your eyes and make it look like you’re not underwater when you smile and interact with the “audience.” They were all so unique in their styles and personalities…the way all merfolk should be! What makes a good mermaid or merman? Loving what you are doing, just like with any profession. 🙂 If you truly love whatever it is you do, you will succeed! Someone once told me that if you keep failing at something, then you have a higher purpose and are not living up to your fullest potential. Something bigger and better awaits you. How exciting is that???

Here, as promised, is their second single, “Shingle Beach.”