Mermaid Evolution (Pics)

[AniaR]

I'm always telling people when they first get started they can't expect things to happen over night! I'm always so shocked when I look back at everything I've grown from, and sometimes the difference between then and now is so shocking! So I wanted to share some pics and video!

The first tail I ever got, was from mermaidFX and it was the last tail they ever made. It is stretch vinyl. I didn't have a monofin or even know what one was at the time, lol. This is the first time I wore it and the first time I swam in a tail. Back then it was pretty much fabric tail makers and mertailor, no one else. This was me trying to see if it was worth it to me to save for a mertailor tail.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/6332_244823055424_4479767_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/6332_244823060424_3641469_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/6332_244823095424_7442833_n.jpg


This is back when I was still sick. I was having trouble walking. I was pretty scared about getting in the water for the first time. At this point in my life I had only been doing the doggy paddle and not for very long, haha. So yeah... I tell this story in my book, haha I got a life jacket.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/6332_244823185424_7033735_n.jpg

Tail didn't look half bad in the water!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/6332_244823330424_7781769_n.jpg

Mostly... lol
https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/6332_244823400424_3889757_n.jpg

I basically just used my arms, and dragged my legs behind me
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/6332_244841565424_4981584_n.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpD0k2FHR-k


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvaRq1yMp_4

I did try to get artsy with it for a few self portraits haha
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/2635_163401170424_13003_n.jpg

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs49/f/2009/229/a/5/a5babd501d0615352414bbb28de4f1e8.jpg

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs49/f/2009/229/2/3/23db43d6d044d7ed8eb2637c54075ef6.jpg

After a summer of practice, I ordered my mertailor tail, which as you know had issues all it's own. Neoprin and alex plus and paint that was very transparent in places. It looked okay for the two dry shoots I did before I tried it in the water, except it was ten inches too short and quite baggy. On land, I could pose so that you didnt see my butt crack haha
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/t1/17455_490234165424_6386999_n.jpg?lvh=1
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/t1/17455_490234170424_4633598_n.jpg?lvh=1

It was my first experience with a monofin! Despite the tail being not what I hoped, I worked hard to at least get some good photos with it
https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/30111_10150209143795425_7533871_n.jpg?lvh=1

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/t1/30111_10150209144095425_6134343_n.jpg?lvh=1

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/t1/30111_10150209144110425_6335600_n.jpg?lvh=1


Eventually, I did decide to take it in the water. I put my sister in my old stretch vinyl one for fun! She was young and little here!
https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/31711_10150212440000425_3101760_n.jpg?lvh=1

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/31711_10150212440020425_2072576_n.jpg?lvh=1

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/31711_10150212440255425_4554451_n.jpg?lvh=1


Um... I wasn't exactly graceful... lol
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/31711_10150212440450425_4334177_n.jpg?lvh=1


http://youtu.be/8vQMBCsKKQE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI_1fajVoOE

Sean started becoming a merwrangler hahaha
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/31711_10150212440590425_7205717_n.jpg?lvh=1

I really tried to make the tail work, but paint was constantly coming off and at the time it was impossible to get createx here. It cost me 30$ for a tiny tiny bottle. The neoprin continued to stretch out, and in most my photos I had to clone tool the waist line so it covered my butt. I also couldnt use the monofin that well
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/59556_10150278105590425_3060608_n.jpg
http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/185/1/8/Retro_Mermaid_on_the_beach_by_raine_angel.jpg

Eventually, I did one last shoot with it before sending it off to Raven. The photographer did all kinds of editing with it. I didn't even own a shell top haha
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/261/1/a/basking_by_raine_angel-d2yyo25.jpg


Then it was off to Raven!

Here's what my tail looked like the second I got it back, after Raven repainted it, resewed it, and added extra parts to it, the FIRST time I put it on!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t31/172173_10150413652335425_7516450_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/180681_10150413652505425_8312864_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/t1/181025_10150413652695425_5820087_n.jpg

And my first swim was really exciting!
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/042/7/4/748301760aa16e9e9f1049194002cbf1-d39bcc6.jpg

but sadly, because it was alex plus, it just kept stretching out, paint kept coming off, and the fluke kept coming unglued. It was good enough though that I could do more regular gigs! Oh yeah I went through a blonde stage haha. Still not a great swimmer at all... but I kept working on it and my posing!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xns4hQ5DN_I


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL_N4Xaw-Vk

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/182796_187999274568157_4514486_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/197593_193981843969900_5286667_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/180891_186717444696340_1864430_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/248812_212439515457466_1133719_n.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKBLXerbyn0

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/227831_207635012604583_3465993_n.jpg

I did my LAST photoshoot in the tail...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TOzmWd9B0Y

https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1/388514_307573965944020_438203257_n.jpg

When I finally ordered my merbellas tail and it came, I gave my tail away to Mimi and she repainted it... LOOK AT IT WOW
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1/578244_393190297382386_769229350_n.jpg

Of course it hasnt stayed like that and requires constant upkeep by mimi

THEN I GOT MY FIRST SWIM AND MY MERBELLAS TAIL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_30M-6_uYx8

It took me a bit to get the hang of it, actually I'd say a good 6 months!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy7b60NXsV4

Soon after that I got the merman jesse tail, I used it once but found it too hard with my leg illness and as you know it's stayed within my company.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cU7YZfFZ8Y

I started figuring out how to pose with my merbellas tails
https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/564241_398232610211488_1527004319_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/320353_481287828572632_1274323304_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/75086_524397000928381_2066344076_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/552136_472507532783995_2141336331_n.jpg

After a year I lost a lot of weight, Raven took it back and remade it for me with her new skills and wowza what a difference!



https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/1546028_788417157859696_607428595_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1/1460259_759864237381655_301462763_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/971611_712703085431104_59210883_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1185659_690407367660676_1450350258_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1/557579_661408320560581_972021111_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t31/1052150_655865991114814_1422825517_o.jpg



I also think I've really improved underwater

https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31/1073277_658564800844933_1799048287_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1150921_684330118268401_801187516_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1095036_683979181636828_886413755_n.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXd7RdXmybM



So for those of you starting out who might need a little inspiration remember:
When I started there weren't many options for tails, nothing like now!
I made crap tails work for a long time.
I had to relearn how to walk at the same time I was learning to swim in a fabric tail
There was no mer yuku or mernetwork until I was well into it
I used to do gigs without pretty mermaid jewelery or even a mermaid top that could get wet!
I totally sucked underwater. like. really. lol
Sean didn't start helping me until 2 years ago ;) before that I did it on my own or had friends help


so remember, YOU CAN DO THIS. :D Conditions don't need to be perfect!

[AniaR]

and FYI some of these videos are YEARS old so viewer discretion is advised! Some of it is from the old mertailor issues.

[Mermaid Adriel]

such an interesting thread, Raina! :D
sometimes I enjoy seeing photos of mermaids and their "evolutions" and I think it's helpful for whoever wants to start mermaiding ;)

[mermaid_ashes]

Thanks for sharing sweetie, such a lovely eveloution. :-)

[MerAnthony]

Very interesting on how you got your start Raina. Thank you for sharing.

[Mermaid Riia]

Raina <3

[Nicoseamus]

This is pretty awesome, You've come a long way, and in the process, inspired many people to live their dreams. Thanks. :D

[Thalassa]

This is awesome! It's good to know there's hope of improvement underwater. ;-) Did you have anyone giving you tips and feedback or did you just sort of find what worked as you went?

[AniaR]

Tail and monofin made a huge diff for me and weights. Once I could get under everything changed lol

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[MermanOliver]

Wow! This is quite a journey. And it gives so much inspiration to keep following your dreams. Thank you for this!

[Maethor]

This is amazing! Just curious: how old were you when you began mermaiding? What did you do beforehand? Thanks!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[AniaR]

geesh I think I started looking into it all when I was 20 but I can't remember the exact age I was maybe 21 or 22. This was back 6-7 years ago though which doesnt SEEM long but there was very little you could find about mermaids online, and only mertailor as realistic options. I was just chatting with Raven about how hard it was getting started back then with such little info and little tails to choose from!
I was sick and a student back then.

[Maethor]

Thanks! I'll be 18 soon and it's all so interesting and inspiring that I'd love to get started but I can't spend all my saved up money on a tail.. And with college starting next fall, I don't have much time! :)

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[AniaR]

yeah I did 2 degrees it wasn't easy. My first fabric tail took forever to save for and it was only 200$ when it was all said and done. the mertailor was 1000$ with SH too and that took 2 years. The merbellas one I fundraised for and saved and took a year. My new one the only reason I can get it is because of a giant tax return!! it's not easy!