UK Woman Embraces Unique Career as Professional Mermaid

Jasmine Seales, 33, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a set of genetic disorders impacting connective tissues), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and fibromyalgia, previously faced challenges in maintaining a “normal” full-time job. She stated she was “not reliable every day” and experienced difficulties with employment. However, she has now discovered her ideal profession as a professional mermaid. Currently, she works as a freelancer at various events and also creates the distinctive tails and tops associated with these mythical beings. She is scheduled to compete in the Miss Ocean World UK on 30 November. Ms. Seales, a resident of Newbury, Berkshire, mentioned that she spent her childhood on the Isle of Wight and was “always freediving.” Her passion for swimming, coupled with her enjoyment of “dressing up and being all sparkly,” made this profession perfectly suited for her. She undertook a course that included, among other subjects, freediving and techniques for safely holding one’s breath. She commented, “A lot of people think it’s just putting on the tail and posing as a mermaid but there’s a lot more [to it].” Having achieved full qualification, she has participated in diverse events, spanning from children’s birthday celebrations to the Boomtown festival located near Winchester, Hampshire. She explained, “We take our really large travelling tanks and we do underwater choreography, meet and greets with the children.” She noted that some of her fellow mermaids are employed at aquariums, performing in shark and ray tanks, but she found those conditions too cold. Ms. Seales described the profession as “magic,” though she acknowledged it wasn’t exclusively glamorous. Her identity as a mermaid additionally serves to promote awareness about the condition of the world’s oceans. A component of the pageant provides individuals with a “creative platform” to draw attention to this issue. She stated, “You have to make an outfit out of something you would usually throw away, like single-use plastic.” She mentioned that her attire, which was crocheted from 1,000 shredded plastic bags, was “ready to go.” Ms. Seales observed that the industry is expanding in the UK, and she expressed a desire for the eventual availability of full-time mermaid roles, similar to those found in the US. Nevertheless, at present, she expressed contentment with her current work. She identified her most cherished assignment as an under-the-sea-themed party for individuals with dementia. She recounted, “They absolutely loved it, just massive smiles on their faces.” She added, “It was the best time.” She is set to represent Hampshire in the UK pageant, which will take place at the Lincoln Arts Centre at the University of Lincoln. For updates, BBC Berkshire can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.