1 / 5

Mia Sim, also known as the "Provo Mermaid," poses during a photo shoot under a waterfall in this undated photo.

Courtesy Fathom Photo Studios

2 / 5

Mia Sim, also known as the "Provo Mermaid," is shown in an undated photo from 2024.

Courtesy Mia Sim

3 / 5

Mia Sim, also known as the "Provo Mermaid," poses during a photo shoot along the Provo River on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Courtesy Fable and Wonder Photography

4 / 5

Mia Sim, also known as the "Provo Mermaid," poses for a photo during a car show event Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Courtesy Mia Sim

5 / 5

Mia Sim, also known as the "Provo Mermaid," poses during a photo shoot along the Provo River on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Courtesy Fable and Wonder Photography

❮ ❯

For young girls, watching movies like Disney classic “The Little Mermaid” or reading literature about aquatic creatures may inspire their own dreams of someday navigating the sea in half-human, half-fish form. In the case of Mia Sim of Provo, her mermaid aspirations have expanded far beyond a fantasy — and have landed her international honors.

Last May, she won the title of fastest mermaid in the world after competing at the 2024 Mermaid Olympics, also known as the “Merlympics,” in Switzerland against professionals alike from across the globe.

The annual event puts competitors through a series of disciplines such as speed, marine conservation and building a community around the sport.

The mythical creatures are challenged in five different events, testing their skills and endurance from swimming, diving, underwater posing, rescue, ecology and, of course, speed.

Sim admitted that she was initially a little skeptical about it upon signing up and after receiving the news that she’d been accepted to compete.

“I started getting scared because it got really real really fast,” Sim recalled. “Then I got over the anxiety and I thought to myself … well, this is a goal I get to work towards now.”

She placed 15th overall in the 2o24 adult competition but won the speed event and even set a new world record.

One year later, the 23-year-old wants to defend the title later this month as a second-time qualifier for the 2025 competition happening in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Known to fans on social media and at local events where she performs as the “Provo Mermaid,” Sim developed a passion for competing at a young age.

Growing up, she was a cheerleader and a gymnast, but numerous foot surgeries kept her from continuing on with those activities. So, she turned to water sports.

Her journey into mermaiding began when she was 12.

Sim recounted crafting a creative solution to the high cost of mermaid tail skins by using a leopard print fabric.

“The tail skins are running like $100 a piece. And I’m thinking: ‘OK, I don’t have that money, but I have $40 in (gift cards) at Joann’s,'” she said.

Sim said she found solace in water sports and displaying as a mermaid, but it was acting and performing for people that she truly longed for.

“The idea of fantastical creatures and putting on that face for other people because they love it, and it’s a really fun way to interact,” she explained.

After high school, she moved to Southern Utah for college at Dixie State University (currently known as Utah Tech University). In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many felt isolated due to a lack of social interaction, Sim decided to completely dive in on her desire to perform in front of crowds, which pushed her to fully pursue mermaiding.

“I wanted to do performances, I wanted to be an athlete and I wanted to meet lots of people,” she said.

But for Sim, the mermaid life is about more than colorful and silicone fins, impressive underwater twists or who can swim the fastest. She is also a proponent for water conservation.

In mythological terms, mermaids are considered caretakers of the sea — or anything water related.

Sim said she has a deep passion for preserving the ecological health of Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake.

Sim has partnered with Conserve Utah Valley and takes part in a variety of projects like plant replacements among other beautification efforts around Utah Lake.

“I get to invite other people in the community, especially mermaids…they have been the people that have shown up for me the most for these projects, and that means a lot that now we’re all working on the same projects,” Sim said.

When she’s not in the midst of conservation service or enduring rigorous training sessions to prepare for a competition, Sim is often booked to perform at different events such as car shows or children’s parties in mermaid attire.

“I’ve been a babysitter too my whole life, so just going and entertaining little kids and making them happy is probably one of my favorite things, especially growing up with four younger siblings,” Sim said.

She also inspires young people to chase their dreams no matter the circumstances and says in some cases, that may involve blazing their own trails in life.

“There are a lot of kids these days who are looking into careers and they’re freaking out about trade school, college … like what do I do? Who am I supposed to become? Sometimes, if there’s not a career for you, you have to make one up,” Sim stated.

For this year’s event, the two-time Merlympian was selected to serve as vice captain for Team USA.

Sim is gearing up to travel with another Utah athlete and three others from across the country to compete in the May 24 competition in Germany.

Throughout the hours of mental and physical preparations, among the many different preparation efforts, Sim is grateful for the camaraderie she and other athletes have developed and the support from the local community and beyond.

“We are so thankful to the women working in Wolfsburg. They have worked an entire year on this event for us, and we are so excited to go and meet them,” she said.