We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Desiree De Jongh. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Desiree below.

Alright, Desiree thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I think that, at this point in my journey, the most meaningful project I have had has been the opportunity to work with some smaller Renaissance faires and festivals. I say this while still valuing the conservation performances I get to do. While I have always had an interest in marine biology and protecting our seas, I also have a strong passion for the performing arts. I have had years of acting lessons and extra roles, as well as performing in theater plays and some musicals. When I was in elementary school, I even got to attend a performing arts magnet school for some time. While making conservation fun, interactive, and imaginative is definitely something that needs to be done, art and pure imagination also have their place and need. The arts are sadly disappearing, and without art and the imagination it fosters, I feel that science suffers; one lends to the other, in my opinion. That is why it is so meaningful to me to become the full character of Loreley Pearl Beach Mermaid at the Renaissance faire. I am using acting skills, accents, and my imagination a bit more because now not only does something have to be made to make sense for a mermaid, but it also has to fit within the parameters of the Renaissance time period. These performances give kids and adults alike the chance to be in pure imagination and fantasy, which can open up so many things for the mind. While my more educational interactions are important to me, my Renaissance faires and festivals have really given my life a sense of meaning.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Loreley Pearl Beach Mermaid. I am a Professional Mermaid Performer with 10 years of experience this June. I always played mermaid in the pool when I was little, loved diving into the deep end, and just being underwater. Shortly after my son was born, I saw the TLC episode “My Crazy Obsession” featuring Mertailor. This began the dream of being a professional mermaid. I enrolled in a small business class that, honestly, wasn’t that helpful; it was really more about opening a product-based business, not a service-based one. Nevertheless, it got me somewhat started, and I created Loreley Pearl Beach Mermaid and her backstory. Loreley is the result of a “What Type of Mermaid Are You?” quiz and some of my own personal history. In 2015, we were coming home from Walt Disney World and stopped at Mertailor’s shop and ordered my first tail. The tail arrived that March, and I had my first event in June at the San Marcos Library, where they were hosting “Castle Carnival”. Shortly after, I moved down to Galveston to attend Texas A&M University for Marine Biology, where I had many events during my time on the island. I offer my services to public events, private events, birthday parties, zoos, aquariums, children’s museums, and, of course, Renaissance faires and festivals. These appearances can range from fantasy-based to general mermaid appearances to education and conservation-based interactions. I offer different party packages for birthday parties that include a handmade gift and an original story of the high seas that I have written for myself and my pirate companion. I think something that sets me apart from others is how much thought I have put into my backstory; it offers a truly immersive experience. Currently, I am most proud of my latest project, Calliope the Mermaid Tank. The tank was originally a 500-gallon dunk tank, but I created a more period-appropriate overlay for it that I built entirely on my own. I want potential clients to know that if they book Loreley Pearl Beach Mermaid, they are receiving a piece of me; they are getting heart and soul in my performances. In addition to being a performer, I have branched into a different side of mermaiding over the past few years. After moving to College Station, I became a certified PADI Mermaid Instructor and work alongside other mermaids at Aggieland Scuba. When I’m not performing, I can still be a mermaid and share that magic. Becoming certified was important to me because it helps set a standard that has been missing in the performance realm. Tail safety has always been something I have been mindful of and an advocate for, especially since I have my own child who wants to swim in one. Now my entire family is certified, and each has their own tail, although mine gets the most use. I love what I do, whether it is performing or teaching; with this path, there is always so much to learn.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think one thing society can do to help creatives grow is not to undervalue our work. As a performer, and through my conversations with other creatives, I’ve found that people want to complement our work but scoff at the prices required for it. I get it, the economy is tough on everyone right now, but it is tough on us, too. People forget all the time how much of ourselves we put into our crafts, characters, and setups. Supplies are a cost we pay upfront, gas to get to the facility, time setting up, rehearsing, and crafting. All of these expenses are unseen by the average person but are reflected in the price you pay, only to be labeled as “too much”. Society needs to value what goes into handmade items, whether you are a performing artist, a photographer, or whatever else. That being said, it is absolutely fine not to be able to afford something, but people shouldn’t criticize creatives for what they have to charge to make a living. There are other ways to support if you cannot purchase. Social media plays a huge part in the creative world now, for better or worse. Sharing their page or post, liking videos, and commenting are all great ways to support a creative until you can maybe make that purchase or booking. We need the creatives, we need the artists, the actors, the singers. We would be missing out on so much without them.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative has been inspiring others. Inspiration to be themselves, inspiration to protect the earth, inspiration to follow their own mermaid path. Being able to instill inspiration, hope, and wonder is all so rewarding, knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s day. We all need a little inspiration from time to time. There are others who have inspired me who will never truly know the impact they had on me. Being able to do that really helps to make all the struggles and physical pains that can come with this path worth it. I think my favorite so far was at the DaVinci Day event this past year on Galveston Island. I was talking about nurdles, a form of plastic pollution, and their impact on sea turtles, and one of the children left saying, “I want to clean all the plastic off the beaches.” Now, will this likely be possible for this one child to do? No, but it gives them a path to do something great and make their own difference in this world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://loreleypearlbeach.wixsite.com/hireamermaid
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loreley_pearl_beach/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loreleypearlbeach/
• Other: Loreleypearlbeach@gmail.com

Image Credits
Bee Evans Photography