She’s got over 138 million views on her YouTube videos and spends everyday swimming underwater wearing a full fish tail.
Meet Melissa, a real life professional underwater mermaid. Yes, that’s her real job title.
The freediver from America loves mermaids so much she legally changed her name to Mermaid Melissa.
Born in Florida, 33 year-old Melissa has always been a water baby. She learnt aged 12 she could hold her breath for a whopping 2 minutes and 30 seconds. The average adult can hold their breath for 40 seconds.
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She become a PADI certified freediver in 2005. Now Melissa makes a living as an aquatic performer. She had performed as a mermaid everywhere – from aquariums to children’s birthday parties.
“Adults often tell me they wish they had a real mermaid come to their birthday parties as kids and I tell them it’s never too late. I often get called on my ‘shell phone’ for corporate pool party events all the time,” Melissa told the Daily Mail.
She has a whole wardrobe of glittery tails – some of which cost thousands of dollars to create.
You can hire Melissa (and her five custom travelling tanks and mermaid bus) to come to your event. But why is she doing it? Is it just because she links swimming around looking pretty?
“My love for marine life and protecting the ocean is what lead me to it,” says Melissa.
“I love how by transforming into a real-life mermaid, I can use the character much like a comic book super hero to promote ocean education through underwater entertainment.”
Most recently, Melissa filmed a video in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia to support Greenpeace in their campaign to spread awareness for the decline of this beautiful marine reserve.
What a job, eh?
