Courtesy of Missouri Mermaids
Mermaids are having a moment. With Disney currently casting the live-action version of its 30-year-old animated “tail” The Little Mermaid, a whole new generation of fans will likely be springing from pools and ponds spouting songs from the soundtrack. The film will inspire kids to dress-up, play pretend, and of course, try to mimic Ariel's swimming in the pool. Being a mermaid is a snapshot in many childhood dreams, but for the members of this St. Louis cosplay organization, it's a fantasy that never has to end.
'Mermaiding' is a hot hobby that combines costumes with fun and fitness, says Hairan Zuchelli, co-founder of Missouri Mermaids. She launched the group, or pod, earlier this year, after moving to the St. Louis area from Utah and failing to find a local merfolk group online. Now, the pod has a handful of regular members who make appearances at events such as last month’s Strange Folk Festival in Carondelet Park. The mermaids can also be booked for birthday parties or just about any event that could use a little fin-centric fun, she says.
"We are still trying to educate the state about mermaiding and what you can get from mermaiding, not just from the business point of view, but also for fun,” Zuchelli says. “And it’s a great workout.”
Mermaiding is relatively new to most in Missouri, but hobbyists host conventions and classes around the world and professional mermaids make appearances at aquariums, charity events, and the like. There’s even a Miss Mermaid USA and Miss Mermaid International competition that goes beyond posing in pretty tails. Indeed, the aspiring aqua queens compete in a long-distance swim that measures how far they can swim underwater in their mermaid tails on a single breath.
Zuchelli, who designs her own costumes, prefers professional monofins designed for swimming and emphasizes water safety basics like swimming with a buddy and practicing with a monofin before getting in over your head. “But you don’t have to be in the water to be a mermaid,” she says. Some merfolk don fantasy tails that aren’t necessarily meant for the water. And an internet search reveals there are plenty of places to purchase fin finery for those who aren’t crafty. Really, there’s no such thing as being a fish out of water when it comes to mermaiding, says Zuchelli. “It’s about getting out there and spreading a little magic, really.”
To book the Missouri Mermaids for a birthday party or event, visit their Facebook page.
