EMILY McAlpin, also known as Merrella, is a little mermaid with big ambitions.
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With flaming red hair and bright blue eyes, the water-loving Wallsend woman bears a striking resemblance to her hero, Princess Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid – a film she watched on repeat as a young girl.
But Ms McAlpin’s childhood fascination with the mythical sea creatures never abated, and now the 23 year old is working towards becoming a professional mermaid.
“I used to watch The Little Mermaid over and over again, my mum can vouch for that,” Ms McAlpin laughed.
“It was my favourite Disney movie.
“I just really related to the character, because I had red hair and blue eyes and an oval face, and I really liked the water.”
Ms McAlpin said professional mermaids do “all kinds of things.”
“They do birthday parties – wet and dry parties where you can go swimming in the pool, or just sit in a lounge room,” she said.
“Professional mermaids also do some modelling and acting, and even things like motivational speaking as well, which I would quite like to do also.”
She said she would love to collaborate on creative projects, such as short films.
“Mermaid Merrella” has had more than 23,000 views on her YouTube channel, where she posts how-to videos and footage of tricks such as blowing ring bubbles under water. She has participated in fundraisers for sick children, and last year she launched a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for a bespoke silicone mermaid tail.
“I would still love a silicone tail,” she said. “They are quite majestic and beautiful.”
But Ms McAlpin had recently commissioned a made-to-measure sequined mermaid tail.
She said she loved heading down to the Bogey Hole to splash about and bask in the sun on the rocks.
“It is really quite majestic and quite peaceful,” she said.
“It feels very feminine, and it’s very grounding as well.
“You just kind of feel like a secret sea goddess.”
“Merrella” was getting used to little girls and boys being intrigued by the “real life mermaid” swimming around in the water.
“It happens a lot,” she said.
