Fishes out of water

By day, Tamara Edwards is an investment banker. But every Monday, she becomes a mermaid at Bristol Aquarium.

The unusual dual career has seen Tamara shell out hundreds of pounds on costumes to become Tamara Treasure of the Sea, better known as Ariel to most of the children she meets.

The aquarium now in fact has two resident mermaids, whose striking appearance and unusual appendages attract gasps and squeals of delight from children and parents alike.

They hold several talks throughout the day for the attraction’s younger visitors, telling stories of life below the waves. 

“It started out as a hobby, but after a while it got out of hand,” says Tamara. “I worked here at the Aquarium as part of the animation team a few years back, and we were hosting mermaid parties for kids. I suggested that having someone dressed up leading the parties might add to the fun, and things just spiralled from there. Before I knew it I had friends and acquaintances asking me to do appearances at events.”

Tamara’s elaborate costume is no doubt the clincher for the more cynical among her young audience, who instantly recognise her glistening tail and flowing locks as mer-material.

“My mum makes and customises a lot of my clothes,” she says. “I’ve got a whole room in my house full of costumes!”

The second performer I met was splayed out on a rock in true mermaid style, slapping her tail a little too authentically for some of the more timid toddlers.

Becky, who goes by the name of Mermaid Aura Belle, is one of a pair of professional merpeople called The English Mermaids who take turns appearing at Bristol Aquarium.

She was spotted by business partner Lily Rose when she had just dressed up for fun: “I knew I really enjoyed the whole fantasy thing and Lily and I just bounced off each other so well we decided to team up. I work in security at the moment but I can’t wait to turn this into a career – I love it.”

For Becky, fantasy roleplay is a way of life. “Even when I’m not in character I always have something mermaid-y on,” she explains. “It’s a really big part of who I am.”

Although undoubtedly light-hearted and fun, it clear that this job is as serious as any other, particularly to The English Mermaids who are hoping to expand their business and work as mermaids full-time.

“If you’re going to commit to a profession you need to put money in to get money out,” says Becky, who has recently ordered a silicone tail that set her back nearly £3,000. “Lily Rose has already got hers, it’s so realistic that some little boys actually cried when they saw her!”

Even with her current tail, which she tells me was ordered all the way from Germany, some children are wary of her convincing costume. She soon talks them round though, with many eager to take a picture next to a ‘real-life’ mermaid. Becky specialises in sea shanties, as well as delivering the odd joke, and the earnest questions she receives about life under the sea are endearing to say the least. 

Transfixed by the glitter and seashells that adorn Bristol Aquarium’s latest additions, some kids have to be dragged away to the rest of the underwater exhibits – a shining testimony to the mermaids’ success.

“The kids’ total belief in the magic is what I love most about this job,” says Tamara. “There is nothing more rewarding.”

The mermaids will be at Bristol Aquarium every Monday between 10.45am-4pm for the duration of the summer holidays. For more information, visit www.bristolaquarium.co.uk.