Mermaids bring a touch of magic to community
Whitney Bradham, aka Mermaid Minya (left), and Hollie Graham, aka Melody Pearle, laugh after getting into their mermaid gear Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. The women are a part of a group of professional actors who dress as mermaids and visit kids' parties as well as charity events. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Whitney Bradham, aka Mermaid Minya poses for a portrait Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. A professional mermaid actor, Bradham says that it's the attention to detail that makes her costume so authentic. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Whitney Bradham, aka Mermaid Minya, poses for a portrait Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. The professional mermaid actors have realized that after spending so much time swimming in their mono fins, swimming without them is almost a discomfort. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Whitney Bradham, aka Mermaid Minya, poses for a portrait Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. Things like water proof makeup and waterproof clothing are essential to the entire presentation when the professional mermaid actors visit birthday parties or other events. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Whitney Bradham, aka Mermaid Minya (left) and Hollie Graham, aka Melody Pearle, pose for a portrait Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. The women are a part of a group of professional actors who dress as mermaids and visit kids' parties as well as charity events. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Hollie Graham, aka Melody Pearle, does her makeup Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. The women are a part of a group of professional actors who dress as mermaids and visit kids' parties as well as charity events. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Hollie Graham, aka Melody Pearle, rests her hands on her mono fin Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. The women are a part of a group of professional actors who dress as mermaids and visit kids' parties as well as charity events. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Hollie Graham, aka Melody Pearle, fits herself into her mono fin Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. The women are a part of a group of professional actors who dress as mermaids and visit kids' parties as well as charity events. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
A mono fin is pictured Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. Things like waterproof makeup and waterproof clothing are essential to the entire presentation when the professional mermaid actors visit birthday parties or other events. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Whitney Bradham, aka Mermaid Minya, does her makeup Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. The professional mermaid actors have realized that after spending so much time swimming in their mono fins, swimming without them is almost a discomfort. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Whitney Bradham, aka Mermaid Minya (left), and Hollie Graham, aka Melody Pearle, prepare their makeup as they get ready to transform into mermaids Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. The women are a part of a group of professional actors who dress as mermaids and visit kids' parties as well as charity events. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Whitney Bradham, aka Mermaid Minya (left), and Hollie Graham, aka Melody Pearle, prepare their makeup as they get ready to transform into mermaids Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in Provo. The women are a part of a group of professional actors who dress as mermaids and visit kids' parties as well as charity events. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Being a mermaid may be an unconventional hobby, but three Utah County women agree it’s a hobby worth having.
Emily White, who goes by Mermaid Morgann while performing, said each time she makes an appearance with Court of Mermaids, a mermaid pod that appears at events in Utah, her interactions with the children remind her why she does what she does.
“I always wanted to be that person that brings that magic into their lives,” White said.
After more than two years performing as a mermaid, White said it’s all about the kids. She remembers being that little girl who was so interested in mermaids and wanted so badly to meet one.
“For me, it’s being able to be the person that I looked up to as a kid,” White said.
Her natural interest in mermaids as a child actually prepared her for her job appearing at events and interacting with people while in character, she said. With Court of Mermaids, White has appeared at charity events, birthday parties or educational events.
Many people say it’s difficult to swim in a mermaid tail, but for White it came naturally.
“I always would pretend to be a mermaid in the pool,” White said. “So getting my first tail, I got in the water and it was natural and effortless. There wasn’t much of a learning curve.”
A lot of White’s job while doing a gig with Court of Mermaids goes into making each performance as real as possible for everyone they interact with.
“I’m a very strong believer in not giving away anything,” White said. “You have to maintain the character. You have to make it very real and believable for the kids.”
Each mermaid with Court of Mermaids creates a persona and backstory to give credibility to their acting. White’s mermaid alter ego is Mermaid Morgann, a mermaid queen from the Atlantic Ocean.
White said the character was very much inspired by her heritage. Her family comes from Scandinavia and she used her middle name for her mermaid name.
“I wanted to connect with who I was deep down,” she said.
Whitney Bradham goes by Mermaid Minya while appearing with Court of Mermaids. Bradham’s character is a freshwater mermaid from the Amazon River.
Bradham said she did a lot of research before settling on a character. In addition to research, a lot goes into preparing for each performance, including a carefully prepared costume, make-up and hairstyles.
The final thing to do is put on your tail. Bradham said that really makes the transformation complete. Her tail, a blue-and-orange silicon tail, gives speed in the water, but slows her down when on land.
“The tales are all meant to be completely swimmable,” Bradham said. “So when you are in the water, it’s just amazing. You are like one with the water. Excuse me for getting all ethereal on you.”
“But there’s no other way to say it,” White added.
“It’s so cool, but then you get on land,” Bradham said. “You get in your tail and you don’t move for hours because you can’t because you are in a mermaid tail.”
While most of the Court of Mermaids appearances are on land, learning the swimming techniques are essential, but difficult at first. She compared it to ballet because it takes a lot of strength and technique, but the most important part is looking graceful.
“You’re in the water, you’re holding your breath and your legs are basically glued together and you have to make it look like the most natural thing in the world,” Bradham said. “We’re mermaids, it is the most natural thing in the world.”
Hollie Graham said taking off the tail after a performance can be very strange because you’ve gotten used to swimming like a mermaid.
“I always say, ‘Now I know how Ariel felt,'” she said.
Graham’s cousin performs with Court of Mermaids as Merman Kalas. He’s the one that first introduced her to it. They would go swimming in tails because it was something they enjoyed.
“I got started just for the fun of it,” Graham said.
She was joined Court of Mermaids 1.5 years ago as Melody Pearle, a Caribbean mermaid.
All three mermaids agreed that not everyone understands what they do. It’s a hobby, a way to inspire kids and something they enjoy doing.
“It’s every girl’s dream,” Graham said. “You finally have the opportunity, you are going to do it and you are going to follow your dreams.”
