A small number in the movement have been able to quit their jobs to become professional mermaids, such as Riia, a Finnish mermaid from Lake Saimaa (one of the largest lakes in Europe). As well as being a certified diving and swimming instructor, Riia makes a living appearing at events in her costume and giving mermaid classes, since swimming like a mermaid is a surprisingly good workout.
Ever thought of what it “takes” to be a mermaid entertainer? Don’t them mermaids just sit pretty and comb their hair all day? 😉 Well, that’s not quite true 😊 Now, close your eyes for a sec. Imagine having 15kg weight attached to your feet in a pool while swimming for 1 hour. At the same time entertaining a crowd of younglings while looking like you’re not drowning. Sounds easy, right? 😀 Making things look “easy” isn’t always easy. It takes a lot of work, dedication and million other things that happen behind the scenes that you might not always unfortunately get to see. What people usually see is the polished product. From countless work hours on planning shows, how to keep crowds entertained and engaged, prepping, taking care of safety, training, maintaining your skills, certifications to equipments. Long days of working, traveling and lugging heavy wet equipments. Exhaustion, bruises, runny eyes, occasional infections and other job hazards. This is a JOB. But to me it’s still THE BEST job in the world. I have had the most wonderful and the most awful experiences as an entertainer. But every customer, person or child I meet makes all the effort WORTH IT! To me performing isn’t about looks or how many likes I get on social media. To me it’s about bringing joy, letting people relax and even for a tiny moment allow their imagination to just run free. To express yourself, to love yourself and to courage everyone to believe in oneself. That’s what being a professional mermaid to me is about. ❤ • • #rakkaudestatyöhön #professionalentertainers #whatitsabout #supportyourlocalartist #workinggirl
A post shared by Merenneito Riia (@mermaidriia) on Nov 1, 2017 at 9:42am PDT

More and More People Are Joining Finland's Mermaid Movement, Here's Why

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