Meet Elle Jimenez (Mermaid Elle) | Professional Mermaid

We had the good fortune of connecting with full-time professional mermaid, Elle Jimenez (Mermaid Elle) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elle, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Back in 2016 there weren’t a lot of mermaid performers. I had opened an event entertainment business in Miami offering all sorts of entertainment services such as circus performers, fire performers, dancers, stilt walkers, etc. I grew up a classically trained dancer and it was my dream to make a living out of my passion which at the time was dancing and putting on spectacular shows for some of Miami’s most upscale events. I was asked for a mermaid for an event and I originally said no, because I didn’t have any mermaid performers, didn’t really understand what that meant back then and also, it was certainly not going to be me since I didn’t know how to swim! This particular client was very persistent on this vision of having a mermaid at the event. I have heard of mermaid entertainers that sit by the pool and look pretty but I was always apprehensive about that because I loved putting on shows that had a wow factor and showed talent and skill. The client made me an offer that made me think, a substantial amount of (sand) dollars for just one hour. I said yes, but I decided the best specialty act as a mermaid would be to do a mermaid swimming show. Except I didn’t know how to swim! Something told me to pursue this adventure since it was something very unique and special so I took swimming lessons, and even became scuba diver certified. I realized I had so many fears related to water and had to work hard mentally to overcome them. Becoming scuba diver certified opened me up to the amazing underwater world of our oceans and it changed my life. I started loving the idea of performing as a mermaid and developing my own character from the perspective of marine life. I trained really hard in preparation for that first mermaid gig. Then the day came, and to my surprise it started raining just when I sat down by the pool in my tail. Turns out I couldn’t do the mermaid swimming show and rather took pictures and interacted with the guests in an area away from the rain. Since I had worked so hard I decided to start promoting it and I eventually got my first mermaid swimming show, then another one and another one. I made an Instagram account to keep my mermaid work as a portfolio and kept on getting bookings. Until one day, the posts of my work started going viral and is started getting attention from the media. I didn’t expect any of that to happen. I’ll always say, the mermaid chose me! It was a calling

I then created my character Mermaid Elle, a mermaid princess who earned her crown for doing a great job at #SavingtheSeas , protecting the oceans and sharing with humans ways they can help too! You can learn more about my character on my kid-friendly Mermaid Elle #SavingtheSeas Youtube Series.

Not only I am a performer but I am also a PADI Mermaid Instructor Trainer which means I get to teach people of all ages how to mermaid dive in the ocean or how to become instructors themselves. Working closely with such a prestigious organization like PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) has been a great way to share the magic of mermaiding with others and transform them into the mermaids they always wished to be, skilled, safe and ocean-minded. What a turn of events! First being scared of the ocean and now calling myself a dive instructor!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The best thing about my job is the magic it creates! To see those eyes light up in children, while their mermaid dreams come true, and even in adults, is so precious and magical. I am very aware of the impact I create in my audience’s lives, that not only mermaids can be real, but that something that unique and extraordinary actually exists!

One of the lows of my job is the physical toll it takes on my body! Holding my breath, swimming for hours, in heavy expensive mermaid costuming, while keeping a smile on my face and acting, isn’t easy! From feet blisters, to bruises, to sunburns, chemical burns on my eyes from the pool chlorine to feeling my sinuses raw from the salt water while performing at aquariums, being a mermaid is definitely not for the faint of heart and requires a ton of training, patients and great health.

I think people are most surprised about the fact that I am not just a mermaid, I also swim and dive! When they see me swim in pools, tanks or aquariums, it really blows their mind. Also, my realistic mermaid costuming definitely causes an impression. I try to be as realistic as a mermaid can get which can be challenging. Also, holding my breath while performing is a skill all in itself. Energy exertion can shorten a breath hold really easily, so performing in a mermaid tail is not as easy as testing the breath hold without moving. My static breath hold is almost 3 minutes, yet my dynamic breath hold while performing is 1-2 minutes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Florida Keys are my favorite place to be, and dive! Warm clear waters, beautiful marine life and also so much atmosphere, with great food too!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate this shoutout to Darren Leonardi, from NATIV Productions. My partner, my love, and my number one supporter.

Website: themermaidelle.com

Instagram: @themermaidelle

Facebook: facebook.com/miamimermaidelle

Youtube: YouTube.com/MermaidElle

Other: TikTok.com/@themermaidelle 2.1 Million Followers

Image Credits
All images by NATIV Productions