She bought a $100 tail and turned the surprise into a 'magical' mermaid carrier
is more than 70% of Americans say A rewarding career or job is extremely important to living a fulfilling life, more important than family, friends, or wealth. CBS News interviewed a wide range of workers who have chosen unique jobs. series we call it: Unique work, special life.
Ten years ago, Marielle Hainaut was living in Montreal and had just been laid off from her job at a major telecommunications company.
A friend of the 24-year-old Canadian knew that she loved swimming and thought that watching a video from a German mermaid school might cheer her up during a difficult time.
“I fell in love with it,” said Hainaut, who saw a video of a swimming mermaid. Right then and there, she said, “I also wanted to be a mermaid.''
Marielle Hainaut
At the time, Hainaut said she didn't know there were many mermaid schools in North America, so she decided to open one in Canada for herself and others who wanted to learn mermaid crafts. At that time, there was little information and she had no idea how to become a mermaid. She bought a basic cloth tail with a monofin and it cost her “about $100” to get started, she said. Her career and her involvement in the community have taken her around the world and brought her more joy than she expected, Hainaut said.
mermaid story
The story of the mermaid, known as a symbol of good luck, fertility and beauty, but also as destructive as the nature of water spoken in cultures around the world The earliest legends appeared in Syria around 1000 BC.
Humans have always admired mermaids, write Sarah Peverley, a professor at the University of Liverpool, said: medieval historian, and a mermaid expert on her blog.she It is written as “The medieval church used mermaids and sirens to teach Christians about sin and salvation.” Books, videos and fairy tales, including Hans Christian Andersen's beloved “The Little Mermaid,” have been adapted into numerous films and Disney's Repeated works continue to maintain public interest in these sea creatures.
This fascination has grown into today's mermaid economy, which ranges from teaching gymnastics classes to participating in mermaid competitions, with some turning this quirky niche into a full-time career. Mermaids can participate in competitions.of China Mermaid Open Championship In 2023, 60 competitors from all over the world will gather. Miss Mermaid, Sea King and Queen Contest Featured in the Netflix series “MerPeople”.
Marielle Hainaut
There is no official directory of how many professional mermaids there are in the world, but Hainaut knows of about 1,000, she told CBS News in an interview from Krabi, Thailand. Some of the mermaids she met competed in mermaid competitions around the world, others she met while building her career.
She called swimming in an aquarium a “magical mermaid dream” and one of the season's most “coveted sexual positions.”
When she first started swimming 10 years ago, she put her quickly acquired skills to use: her love of swimming and water.
“Water is my element,” she said. She learned monofin and synchronized swimming and then launched her own classes. Hainaut charged $60 per class for those who wanted to learn how to swim like a mermaid.
“People want to be mermaids. I have to prepare mermaid lessons and stuff like that. But it's fun. Because what is a mermaid class? What is a mermaid? I “I decide. It's a magical world. It's my own discipline, I can do anything I want,” she said.
Diversification of mermaid income sources
After teaching classes for a while, Ms. Hainaut had just reached the break-even point and was ready to try a new avenue to support herself. She says the most important thing for mermaids is to “diversify your sources of income.” She says some people can earn between $150 and $250 an hour by being hired for private parties (for children or adults), while others perform at corporate events, teach classes and sell fins. Mermaids can also work at water parks, aquariums, and other event venues.
Hainaut said mermaids must have a “passion” for the field, as their work is mentally demanding, sinus infections are common, and there's a lot of pressure to look good. He said unsavory people known as “marverts” could be drawn into their lives. Hainaut said their community has developed safety measures and communication skills, but there can be many “ups and downs” for new mermaids.
Marielle Hainaut
When she started her mermaid company, aqua mermaid, Years ago, Hainaut said she had no idea what she was doing. And while classes, party appearances, and tail sales were going smoothly, everything came to a halt when the global pandemic hit and all in-person events were canceled. During that time, she became a booking agent for mermaids looking for her work, and she received a small portion of her commission in return.
“People call me from Canada, the United States and Dubai looking for mermaids,” said Hainaut, who has booked jobs for many of the mermaids she knows. Next, she plans to develop training courses and retreats for her mermaids in hopes of passing on what she has learned to her next generation.
“We can travel, earn money, be beautiful and swim,” Hainaut said. “Being a mermaid is truly magical.”
Summarize this content to 100 words is more than 70% of Americans say A rewarding career or job is extremely important to living a fulfilling life, more important than family, friends, or wealth. CBS News interviewed a wide range of workers who have chosen unique jobs. series we call it: Unique work, special life.Ten years ago, Marielle Hainaut was living in Montreal and had just been laid off from her job at a major telecommunications company.A friend of the 24-year-old Canadian knew that she loved swimming and thought that watching a video from a German mermaid school might cheer her up during a difficult time.
“I fell in love with it,” said Hainaut, who saw a video of a swimming mermaid. Right then and there, she said, “I also wanted to be a mermaid.''
Professional mermaid Marielle Hainaut poses on a rock.
Marielle Hainaut
At the time, Hainaut said she didn't know there were many mermaid schools in North America, so she decided to open one in Canada for herself and others who wanted to learn mermaid crafts. At that time, there was little information and she had no idea how to become a mermaid. She bought a basic cloth tail with a monofin and it cost her “about $100” to get started, she said. Her career and her involvement in the community have taken her around the world and brought her more joy than she expected, Hainaut said.
mermaid storyThe story of the mermaid, known as a symbol of good luck, fertility and beauty, but also as destructive as the nature of water spoken in cultures around the world The earliest legends appeared in Syria around 1000 BC. Humans have always admired mermaids, write Sarah Peverley, a professor at the University of Liverpool, said: medieval historian, and a mermaid expert on her blog.she It is written as “The medieval church used mermaids and sirens to teach Christians about sin and salvation.” Books, videos and fairy tales, including Hans Christian Andersen's beloved “The Little Mermaid,” have been adapted into numerous films and Disney's Repeated works continue to maintain public interest in these sea creatures.This fascination has grown into today's mermaid economy, which ranges from teaching gymnastics classes to participating in mermaid competitions, with some turning this quirky niche into a full-time career. Mermaids can participate in competitions.of China Mermaid Open Championship In 2023, 60 competitors from all over the world will gather. Miss Mermaid, Sea King and Queen Contest Featured in the Netflix series “MerPeople”.
Mermaid contest held in Hurghada, Egypt. The international competition saw 40 mermaids compete for the prize.
Marielle Hainaut
There is no official directory of how many professional mermaids there are in the world, but Hainaut knows of about 1,000, she told CBS News in an interview from Krabi, Thailand. Some of the mermaids she met competed in mermaid competitions around the world, others she met while building her career.
She called swimming in an aquarium a “magical mermaid dream” and one of the season's most “coveted sexual positions.”When she first started swimming 10 years ago, she put her quickly acquired skills to use: her love of swimming and water. “Water is my element,” she said. She learned monofin and synchronized swimming and then launched her own classes. Hainaut charged $60 per class for those who wanted to learn how to swim like a mermaid. “People want to be mermaids. I have to prepare mermaid lessons and stuff like that. But it's fun. Because what is a mermaid class? What is a mermaid? I “I decide. It's a magical world. It's my own discipline, I can do anything I want,” she said.Diversification of mermaid income sourcesAfter teaching classes for a while, Ms. Hainaut had just reached the break-even point and was ready to try a new avenue to support herself. She says the most important thing for mermaids is to “diversify your sources of income.” She says some people can earn between $150 and $250 an hour by being hired for private parties (for children or adults), while others perform at corporate events, teach classes and sell fins. Mermaids can also work at water parks, aquariums, and other event venues. Hainaut said mermaids must have a “passion” for the field, as their work is mentally demanding, sinus infections are common, and there's a lot of pressure to look good. He said unsavory people known as “marverts” could be drawn into their lives. Hainaut said their community has developed safety measures and communication skills, but there can be many “ups and downs” for new mermaids.
Mariel Hainaut poses among water lily leaves in Thailand.
Marielle Hainaut
When she started her mermaid company, aqua mermaid, Years ago, Hainaut said she had no idea what she was doing. And while classes, party appearances, and tail sales were going smoothly, everything came to a halt when the global pandemic hit and all in-person events were canceled. During that time, she became a booking agent for mermaids looking for her work, and she received a small portion of her commission in return.
“People call me from Canada, the United States and Dubai looking for mermaids,” said Hainaut, who has booked jobs for many of the mermaids she knows. Next, she plans to develop training courses and retreats for her mermaids in hopes of passing on what she has learned to her next generation.”We can travel, earn money, be beautiful and swim,” Hainaut said. “Being a mermaid is truly magical.”
carla tabaknik
Cara Tabachnick is a news editor and journalist at CBSNews.com. Carla started her career with her criminal act on Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. To contact her, cara.tabachnick@cbsinteractive.com
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/magical-mermaid-career/ She bought a $100 tail and turned the surprise into a 'magical' mermaid carrier
