Yeah, you're not the only one who noticed that when she started. I have my own personal criticisms of Melissa, I don't hate her or anything or try to perpetuate drama etc. I pretty much just try to ignore her as I felt a little used by her when she first started up. So I don't usually visit her page or website. You know, out of sight out of mind type deal. But her stuff gets shared a lot on FB and I did see that phrase and find it upsetting. I think Hannah Pioneered this field for us. She's also been the longest running professional mermaid based on my research. Not that it needs to be a fight between the two or anything, I just found it kind of arrogant. I mean, it's not a title you should assign yourself in my opinion. Same would go for "world's leading tail maker". Thom and Eric And Foxmoon have been making tails for public purchase longer than anyone else and it would make me uncomfortable as well to see another tail maker only a few years old claiming that status too. She also has the phrase about saving the ocean's creatures before they all become mythical, which I find contradictory based on her work at sea world.
I guess what I'm saying is I agree with you, but I try not to care. Her calling herself that doesn't really affect anyone else. People grow and change, and we try all sorts of things to get ourselves out there and do well. I supposed it would be up to the client to decide if she's really the world's leading anything. When I book gigs they have no clue who she is or most other mermaids
Typically for ANYTHING to have that title, that is some sort of assessment process. Products have to go through product testing etc. There isn't anything like that for mers, and like it's already said what would you base it on? swimming capabilities? Number of gigs? breath holding etc? To be fair, I feel the exact same way about the Mermaid Awards from the various mercons
I guess more what gets me, is that I've seen it suggested online whenever anyone points out that statement, that they must be jealous. I don't think you have to be jealous to raise your eyebrows at it. I can't hold my breath or swim like Melissa, that woman is an athlete. With years of experience. I can't complain and be jealous that I don't get aquarium gigs when there are no aquariums anywhere around me or any of the provinces around me
You kinda have to judge yourself by your own goals, and not the work of others. Take inspiration from them, but don't convince yourself you have to be successful in the ways that they have in order to be considered a professional. You get my drift?
I do wish though that people would be more open about those who have supported them in the past. It's not so much I want to be appreciated for helping people, or I think that of others... it's just that really no one gets to certain levels without help, and it's lame to act like it was done all on their own. So many people have helped me. When I wrote my book I was trying so hard to list all the people who helped me along the way and I still forgot people
I feel like a statement like that ignores all the mermaids a person has to climb over and learn from to get to that level. When you look at all the news articles etc about up and coming mers, everyone acknowledges Hannah. She's not retired yet, so to me, she'll always be the world's leading mermaid
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Originally Posted by TheSolitarySiren
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