Today we’d like to introduce you to Una The Mermaid.
Hi Una , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Shello! My name is Una and I am a professional mermaid. I began mermaiding as a hobby in 2011, and over-time evolved my part-time passion into a professional career. I have always had a deep affinity for the Ocean and swimming. Born and raised in Hawaii during early my childhood years really helped shape my love and connection to water. I began mermaiding professionally in 2016, and 2019 completed the initial build of my traveling 900 galloon mermaid tank. The tank has been both an investment and a labor of love. It has also allowed me more freedom to perform and mermaid in the Pacific NW (where I now live) regardless of the weather. In addition to being a professional mermaid, I am also an event producer and organizer. Since 2016 I have been producing the annual Portlandia Mermaid Parade & Festival, which now consists of a mermaid parade, a sirens ball, a one-day mermaid convention; all happening the last weekend of July each year.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with any meaningful pursuit of a dream or passion, there are naturally challenges that emerge along the way. When I began mermaiding in 2011, I was a full-time student, and remained so until 2021 when I finally completed my doctoral degree. Like many others in this country, I had to complete my schooling though the use of student loans and working full-time. Balancing work and school were not working logistically or financially, especially with a new baby I and my husband now had. We knew that pursuing our dreams would require some sacrifice. So, we both left the work force to return to school full-time, sold our house and almost everything we owned and moved in with my parents for a while until we both completed our Master’s degree. It was a rough seven years. I would squeeze in mermaiding when I had the chance. In addition to our financial limitations, I also suffer from chronic illness, a connective tissue disease with organ involvement, and degenerative spinal disease. Physically speaking, these illnesses have made both goals very challenging.
While extended family members would often support the sacrifices being made for academic schooling, few understood my mermaid passion, and would often not view this goal as a ‘legitimate’ career path. This perspective would later change, but it would take many years and my success for this to happen.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I actually have several professions. I work as an independent restorative justice and conflict resolution consultant, a criminal justice instructor for a community college, a swim instructor, and of course, I am also a professional mermaid and event producer and organizer.
Professional mermaiding (also referred to as artistic mermaiding, mermaidry, or artistic mermaid performance) is the practice of wearing, and often swimming in a costume or prosthetic mermaid tail and has historical roots in aqua ballet. One of the first mermaids to greatly influence the aquatic performance and mermaid industry in the United States (and arguably the world) was the Australian professional swimmer, vaudeville star, film actress, and writer, Annette Kellerman.
Mermaiding is recognized as an athletic sport and there are mermaid schools and even competitions all over the world. Mermaiding is both a profession and a hobby. Professional mermaids will often swim in live, filmed, or photographed productions or shows and can be hired for special events. Nonprofessional enthusiasts swim in tails at their local pools if the pool allows it, lakes, rivers, and seashores, or take part in mermaid-themed photo shoots, birthday parties, or mermaid meetings with other merfolk. Mermaiding is popular with all ages and genders, and tail making companies are multimillion dollar industry.
In 2019, I and my husband acquired and repurposed an old dunk tank and built what is now my traveling 900 gallon mermaid tank. The tank is aesthetically inspired by the old circus wagons of the late 1800’s early 1900’s. I travel all over the Pacific NW entertaining at various venues, street fairs, and events throughout the year. Most notably you can find me offering live mermaid tank encounters at the annual International Mermaid Festival in Aberdeen WA, The Spirit of Halloween Town in St. Helens Oregon, and a variety of other events.
I think what sets me apart from others is my diverse professional background, and my high level of engagement in matters of social justice and violence reduction. I think people often think of entertainers as having limited education, or a very narrow career focus. This is a negative stereotype which greatly reduces our individual complexity and nuance. Mermaiding is very much a passion of mine, but so is restorative justice and ending systems of violence.
Many of the achievements I have accomplished have come from the collaborative efforts of others, be they family, friends, or community. I am most proud of my city, and those within my own merfolk community who continue to create and make beauty and magic. The Portlandia Mermaid Parade and Festival is a shining example of what can happen when magic meets magic! None of it would be possible with out the commitment, dedication and support of others! I am also proud that the City of Portland remains a city of the weird and a city of art and creation!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Starting out I did not have any specific merfolk mentors. I was a bit of a pioneer in my region, and at that time (and somewhat still to this day) much of the knowledge around the art and sport of mermaiding are kept as trade secrets. I was self-taught. I inadvertently created my own community by simply leading by example. I did what I wanted to do and people with a similar interest found me. However, there is much more open access to mermaiding information out there now. There are also many more events, and activities which celebrate this profession and opportunities to connect with other merfolk from all over the world. My advice for anyone starting out in this hobby or profession is to do as much research as you can about the skills and safety requirements needed to mermaid. Take advantage of any events, activities, or workshops that provide networking opportunities. Social media also has numerous merfolk groups based on states and regions that can help connect you to local merfolk groups in your area. Some folks do swim meet-ups and others do events, and gigs. Being a part of mer-community is very helpful, as there are many aspects to this activity that simply cannot be learned by just reading about it online. A really great online resource is the MerNetwork. This is a comprehensive database of all things related to mermaiding. It is a great starter resource!
Also, be wary of profession gatekeepers who make claims about needing to have certain expensive certifications. While it is true that all mermaids should be competent swimmers and must learn water safety for swimming in a mono-fin and tail, not all dive certifications are mermaid specific, or even necessary depending on the type of swimming being done. Additionally, there is no federally mandated or recognized single certification for mermaiding. For insurance purposes it can help to have some of these certifications, especially if you are working with the public or being hired by a private hotel or aquarium, but it entirely depends on what you are doing. Do your research and become familiar with what is actually needed for the type of mermaiding you plan on doing. Finally, do not go out and invest thousands of dollars in a silicone mermaid tail before learning the basics. Many people are attracted to the idea of mermaiding without first understanding all of the physical and health aspects doing this sport. Sometimes people find that once they try it, this is not an activity for them. Start with a beginner tail and mono-fin and see if this is something you want to continue to invest in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unathemermaid.com
- Instagram: una_the_mermaid
- Facebook: unathemermaid
- Other: unathemermaid1 (on TikTok)
Image Credits
Una the Mermaid LLC