The World Mermaid Awards celebrates the best Princess Ariel wannabes
The Little Mermaid was one of my two favourite Disney films as a child (the other was Aladdin, which is why Al made it onto my childhood crush list). I adored Princess Ariel; I loved her long red locks, her drive for exploration and life, and really enjoyed how she teed off her parents (though in retrospect, they were just looking out for her). I thought her costume was great (if not ideal for adolescents) and that all the songs were incredibly catchy and engaging. I can still sing the first few verses she sang as she swam around her treasure cave;
‘Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?
Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?
Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl
The girl who has everything?
Look at this trove, treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Looking around here, you’d think
Sure, she’s got everything
I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I’ve got who’s-its and what’s-its galore
You want thing-a-mabobs?
I’ve got twenty
But who cares? No big deal. I want more’. (You’re humming this in your head now, aren’t you?)
I grew up slightly terrified of octopi and Sea Witches (inevitably related) and have been known to google ‘mermaid costume’ on eBay in my spare time (they tend to all look like porno outfits).
However, I didn’t hit puberty and think, ‘Wow, y’know that lifelong dream of becoming a real life mermaid? Well here’s my chance…’ and go on to pose in revealing outfits, sporting a tail to delight dinner guests.
How do you make the jump from paddling pool to a full of tail flouncing and pouting? Is it a slow transition, ‘Yes, my Zara, she did always love to tie her legs together and pretend she was a fish’, or ‘Yes, that girl was a big fan of posing on rocks and it kinda went from there. Just look at her aquarium…’
Some people, somehow, globally, all made the same mermaid life decision at kinda the same time, as this year the first ever WORLD Mermaid Awards are being held in Las Vegas. It’s no whimsy or flight of fancy- tickets are a whopping $35- $195, which shows real dedication. The full price tickets gets you two days at the convention, the awards, and access to the pool party.
So what exactly is the World Mermaid Awards- how do you qualify, what do you need to do, and is there a winner?
Will it be Miss World, fishy style, or.. I’m not really sure what the alternative is. The site for the World Mermaid Awards actually tells you zilch about the awards, so I’m guessing they’re finalizing the details now. At the very least, I’m sure there will be ladies in tails (and maybe some Mermen so as not to be sexist) looking sultry and giving every little girl the hope she can grow up to be just like them.
Here’s what I’ve been able to find out. There is going to be a 2 day show/ convention, where people can come and meet mermaids from all over the world. The Maui Mermaids will be signing stuff- I guess they’re pretty famous in the mermaid world- and there will also be shows going on. There will be stands selling ‘mermaid related products’ and a ridiculous amount of ladies with their assets on display.
The video advertising the event equally gives nothing away, but is still very beautiful to look at.
I’ll leave you with some pretty images of some of the mer-ladies that will be present and you can admire the effort they’ve gone to with their costumes.
Just for fun- Advice on the life lessons in the Little Mermaid:
Image credits: Here, Sita Lange, here, here and Hannah Mermaid and Medusariena
