How much does body matter?

[Coradion]

So I definitely think there's more than one kind of beauty and most mermaids do not look like the POTC supermodels, but I've worked and still work in industries where there is an image or fantasy that's being sold and the brand/company wants that represented. I'm making a tail now that will most likely be used "professionally" and by that I mean it will be swam in several times a week in a massive 26 foot gallery tank at a hotel. My concern is that if I'm swimming in it, I'm not at the fitness level I feel is expected of a fantasy. If the image of a merman is something from a storybook I need to keep working abs until I have a cut body and not just an inshape one. I would hesitate to work as a merman if my body were not where I wanted it in the event that is how I become known and recognized. I'd like to be able to tell myself that I'm pretty just the way I am, but frankly it doesn't matter what I think. It matters what management and tourists at a large hotel think. Like looking at Melissa and Hannah Fraser, those girls aren't just skinny, they're toned. How much does body matter in the professional mermaiding world?

[Nate Walis]

There seems to be a marked difference in the tolerance for mermaids of differing builds and shape once you leave behind the world of the professional mer who is working events and booking themselves on an individual basis to the realm of corporate entities that are hiring people to portray mermaids for their specific purposes.

In the case of the former there are many people on this forum that fall into that catagory, and while they very much fit into the catagory of what I would describe as individually beautiful in their own right and present very good role models for younger and aspiring mermaids, they do not fall into the same catagory or shape as Ms Fraser.

In the case of the latter, it's more likely to be the image of what the mainstream percives as a "hot body" being sold to the audience that just happens to have been slipped into a tail as well.

With the independent professional mermaids the body shape is less of an issue because they're doing what they do for their own passions, in the case of a more commercial venture such individual visions are seldom the norm and thus they will tend to go for more athletic and conventional body types.

[SireniaSolaris]

In my experience, what I've found, is that working smaller scale, individual events is a lot more liberal in what is "expected" per se. There aren't really too much in terms of expectations aside from there being someone in a tale. In my personal company, there is myself and two others, all different in body type. One is the 'perfect' thin and toned body. I, myself, technically fall within a 'normal' BMI, however, I am two sizes larger than when I had my 'ideal' body, and I certainly have some extra flub I could lose. The third girl is some sizes larger than myself. However, we all three work at parties and such, and we get equally positive feedback. To parents and children, it doesn't matter if one is a tiny mer or a larger mer.

That begins to matter to the larger, corporate entities and people looking to add to their "attractions". In many cases when you begin working in this area, they are basically hiring a performing model. And so in these cases, yes - body does matter.

And I'll be honest, that is probably a big reason why I am not more proactive in my own mermaid endeavors. Because I would like to be a full time mermaid. However, I am really trying to get back into my pre-pregnancy shape before I become as active as I plan on being.

It is, I admit, an area of lower self esteem that I have, and I should, perhaps, be more confident in myself as I am. However, having previously worked as a professional belly dancer, I saw much of the same critique from potential clients going through our performers and at times refusing some who were "too big" or "not fit enough" according to what they had in their minds. I don't see why this would be subject to any different standards.

[Merman_Ryan]

While I don't think it should matter what size you are to be mermaid or merman, I have personally lost about 30 pounds to make myself feel better. While I do want to build some muscle I think I've done a good job over the last year and a half.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/285089_165886746818330_100001910170044_365741_3298 927_n.jpg

With that being said I still think if you want to be a mer is shouldn't matter what you look like. Do what makes you happy.

[Kanti]

You have to take into account that they're probably been doing that for quite a while before they got that way xD
You probably won't be toned until you've been at it for a while. And even so, if you're not, as long as you're swimming
in your tail, you'll be working towards that goal, and in time you probably will be :')

In Greek and Norse mythology there are lots of skinny-er/less muscular guys and they're usually very cunning or sly
and often take advantage of the larger, stronger people. I have lots of views of skinnier mermen, they'd probably be
much more playful and prone to cause trouble. I view muscular/toned mermen as being serious or aggressive.

Perhaps you can choose a different character to play for now. Maybe if you're whimsical it'd match more and people
may hire you for that aspect. I don't know, I may just be spouting nonsense. It makes a lot of sense to me, though xD

I don't know if people hire mermen based on their muscles? Especially since mermen
are pretty rare, but I suppose that's a qualification to some people.

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

Hmm... this is a tough one. I have similar concerns about my body and weight and lack of definition, but on the other hand, I do get a fair number of compliments every day for my hair, eyes, smile, etc. I think that it's probably best not to borrow trouble... begin promoting yourself as you are, and continue to work out intelligently, make healthy eating choices, etc, as you do get down to business. If someone doesn't want to hire you because of your appearance, that's a shame, but there's nothing you can do about it... and you can build up confidence from the people who do want you.

[happyguava]

Perhaps you can choose a different character to play for now. Maybe if you're whimsical it'd match more and people
may hire you for that aspect. I don't know, I may just be spouting nonsense. It makes a lot of sense to me, though xD


This has worked really well for me - I'm very plain looking, not the right shape or size or anything, certainly not a lure-sailors-to-their-deaths-with-my-beauty kind of mermaid. But people still hire me because their kids want to play with the mermaid who tells them jokes and teaches them silly songs and knows how to do the chicken dance underwater :P

[Mermaid Momo]

i sorta ignore what other people say more of because i've heard it so many times before: your shoulders are so wide! and your arms so musculary, look you're not even flexing! your voice is really deep! are you sure you arent a boy?
it gets really annoying but i try to have patience with them.

[Merman_Ryan]

Kanti - (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?234-Kanti)

I'm taking the explorer angle for my character for now but who knows what the future will bring. :)

[Prince Calypso]

I'm a tin guy with a slightly girlish figure to me my character is pretty much my alter ego and as the exact same body struture.
i don't think it's the size of the mermaid, but the size of her heart that matters

[SweeteSiren]

I agree with Kanti. If your performance is good it will overshadow any physical flaws you feel like you have. The best performers (music, sports or mermaiding) are always the ones who look like they're having fun. Get in the tank and make the crowd think "Wow! I want to do what he's doing!"

[Artisankatie]

As has been said before, I think it depends on who's hiring. Some people just want a mer and don't care what he or she looks like as long as they have a tail. For some people, the novelty distracts them enough that they don't care. But I think for more professional gigs, such as advertising or other big corporate stuff, people are going to want to see perfect bodies. One of the tv shows Aela proudly announces she was on was one in which comedian Stephen K Amos laughed at her because she didn't have Daryl Hannah's body. Whether we like it or not, people expect to see fit mermaids.

I'm a bit squeamish about offering myself as a mermaid for hire because although I think I did reasonably well in the looks department, I stacked on 20 kilos after I started uni, and I'm quite squishy in places I never used to be squishy. That said though, my boyfriend at the time commented that when I was at the height of my fitness, hugging me was like hugging a guy. Which was a compliment in a roundabout way, but I think I'd like to be in the middle of where I was then and where I am now. I HAVE BOOBS NOW!

[SeaNymph]

I agree with Artisankatie, it depends on who´s hiring and what you want to do as merman/mermaid. And what you expect from yourself to be like. Do you want to represent the funny type? The trained, muscular type? The neptun-like type with beard and stomach? Or just yourself swimming? If you feel your fitness level is low, then improve in a fitness studio. But it is more important to be original and unique. Do something special, that no other merman does. Or see the beautiful things at your body that are superior to other merpeople´s. You can improve your appearance by wearing an impressing necklace, belt, bracelet or other things.

You don´t need to be a model to be successful and to fulfill people´s expectations. Hannah and Melissa are good examples. In my imagination, Hannah represents perfectly how a mermaid should be like. She is beautiful, elegant, slender and graceful. And she is a real mermaid, so people can easily believe what they see. And there is Melissa, who in my opinion does not show any of these classical "mermaid-beauty" qualities at all, but nevertheless is mermaiding self-confidently and successfully.

So, swim for the people who want to see YOU, you have to see youself as more than just a "model with fins"!!!

[Nate Walis]

One of the tv shows Aela proudly announces she was on was one in which comedian Stephen K Amos laughed at her because she didn't have Daryl Hannah's body.

Kind of ironic that Steven K Amos laughed at Aela because she's not what the average person expects of a mermaid when you consider that no one laughs at him once they realise he has none of the talent that you'd expect of a "comedian" who's on the BBC constantly...

[Alveric]

I think most guys will agree when I say that I prefer a woman who has a good bit of squishyness over the rather scary models we're told we ought to like.

Alveric

[Merman Chris]

Agree with Alveric, and I don't think super skinny looks particularly good with a tail. It's too abrupt a transition. Just my personal opinion.

[Rain Hauger]

i wish there were more people out there that thought like us. I am a little bit of a thicker mermaid and sadly there are day I don't feel like i'm pretty enough to be mermaid. :( but then i go swimming and I don't care what the world thinks I'm in the water and I get to be something only people dream about being
no wif only i could find someone who excepted me that way :P ><>OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

[Mermaid Dottie]

Well, I can tell you this; I'm 21 weeks and 3 days pregnant. Even though I'm noticeably pregnant, my tail distracts even the vainest, skinniest girl away from my baby bump, which can actually be annoying at times. But no matter who talks to me, it's always "That is so cool, where did you get that?" and (my favorite) "LOOK! A MERMAID!!"
I also think that the quality of your tail can impress people even more. I'm aching for a silicone tail, but I'm going to have to wait a little while until after I lose the baby weight. :( want one SO bad though! >.<
Anyway. Super muscular guys, I've found, kinda scare little kids. They like smaller, more real guys, I think. Less imposing. My husband has HUGE shoulders and biceps (his abs are all hidden), and when he comes my way at the pool all the little ones go hide by their parents.
One more word; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can find beauty in pretty much anyone, and I always find some in myself when I do that. :)
Happy Tails!