Mermaids are having a moment.
Disney¡¯s live-action remake of 1989¡¯s ¡°The Little Mermaid¡± has made a splash with audiences worldwide, but that doesn¡¯t mean mermaids are only the stuff of fairytales: Earlier this spring, Netflix released ¡°MerPeople,¡± a four-part documentary that investigates the fast-growing world of professional mermaiding.
In an industry now said to be worth around $500 million (about ?71 billion) by some estimates, professional mermaids pull on custom-made tails to perform at aquariums, corporate events and children¡¯s parties, coupled with strong online presences as influencers. There are also legions of mermaiding advocates who pursue the lifestyle primarily as a hobby, adopting a mermaid name (or ¡°mersona¡±) and coming together in ¡°pods¡± with other members of their community for meet-ups and photo shoots.
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