Jennifer Elizabeth’s Journey as a Mermaid and Author
Jennifer Elizabeth, a professional mermaid and author, shares her journey from childhood fascination to career, blending her love for mermaids with storytelling in books, TV, and live performances.
Jennifer Elizabeth, also known as Sea Angel Jenn, has enchanted audiences for over a decade with her captivating performances as a professional mermaid. Her journey began at the tender age of five, when she first fell in love with the magical world of mermaids. Since then, she has transformed her childhood fascination into a vibrant career, delighting audiences across Los Angeles and her hometown of Carmel, CA. Jennifer’s passion for storytelling is as deep as the ocean she adores, and she has recently brought to life a story she penned over 20 years ago. Her ability to weave mermaid magic into her writing and performances is a testament to her creativity and dedication to her craft.
Jennifer’s work is a celebration of imagination and wonder, and her stories resonate with readers of all ages. Her children’s book, *A Mermaid’s Tale of Pearls*, explores themes of love, friendship, heartbreak, and hope, drawing from her own experiences as a performer and storyteller. Her unique perspective as a mermaid and actress has also led to roles in Nickelodeon’s *Knight Squad* and the film *Mermaid*, where she seamlessly blends her talents to create unforgettable characters. With several exciting projects on the horizon, including a mermaid-inspired TV pilot and a traveling mermaid show, Jennifer Elizabeth continues to inspire and enchant with her boundless creativity and passion for storytelling.
You’ve been a professional mermaid for over 10 years. Can you share what initially drew you to this unique profession and how it has influenced your creativity and storytelling?
I have been a professional mermaid now for about 17 years. What originally drew me to this side profession was when I first saw the movie “Splash” as a little girl and the lagoon mermaids from Disney’s 1950’s “Peter Pan” movie. When I saw Darly Hannah as a “real” mermaid on screen swimming in a real tail (no CGI, or AI) I was obsessed and wanted to be an actress so that I could be a mermaid, too. As I grew older and was performing as various Disney Princesses in High School for parties, I really enjoyed the reaction of children and adults to the “magic” of it all and what performing can bring. This has influenced my creativity in many ways, branding myself with all things mermaid. Besides it inspiring to change the angel to a mermaid in my children’s book story, it has influenced me to write a Mermaid inspired TV pilot along with a 5 season TV bible, put together a pitch for a unique Traveling mermaid show, and early stages of a YA series also with mermaids. Being a live performer also has enhanced my training as being an actor and my improv skills.
Your passion for mermaids began at the age of 5. How did this childhood fascination evolve into a professional career, and what has been the most rewarding aspect of bringing mermaid magic to life?
My childhood fascination with mermaids evolved into a professional career in a natural way and feel they go hand in hand. I grew up around the entertainment business and so my hobby/ passion of being a mermaid has gotten me roles as a mermaid because of my connections working as an actress and stuntwoman in the business. I have also been booked making appearances as a mermaid at celebrity homes for them or their kids. Professionals who work behind the camera, I have been a mermaid for them at their home, which in turn has spread my network into many more surprising opportunities. The most rewarding aspect of bringing mermaid magic to life is; I am honoring my inner child and her dream of being an actual mermaid. To bring joy and magic to so many and of so many ages is always such an MER-mazing feeling. It’s also nice, the money it can bring in since, not only being paid to do what you love and created, these tails we purchase are Not cheap.
In addition to performing as a mermaid, you have ventured into acting, appearing in Nickelodeon’s Knight Squad and the film Mermaid. How do these acting experiences complement your mermaid performances and storytelling?
I have been acting and doing stunts since I was very young….so incorporating my water stunt skills meshes well with being a professional mermaid. Again, they sort of live with each other and often blur the lines of who came first. I recently filmed for another production as a mermaid with actress Anna Faris in a new show soon to stream called “It’s Florida, Man”. That was a fun experience to work on and with so much comedy and improv. It’s hard to really say how they complement since they just really co-exist. I am very happy with the journey that both my acting/stunt world has brought and my mermaid profession. It is also just an extra perk when they come together. It accomplishes what I wanted when I was 7; to be an actress so that I could be a mermaid in TV and movies. I am accomplishing that and making my inner child delighted. You really can grow up and be anything you want!
You wrote A Mermaid’s Tale of Pearls over 20 years ago. What inspired this story, and why did you decide now was the right time to share it with the world?
I originally wrote this story as part of a school project in high school for my Creative Writing class. My story won 2nd place which meant I was one of the 3 that got to visit our local schools to read our children’s books to other children and get featured in the local paper. Originally, the story was titled, “An Angels story of Love between the Moon and the Sea.” What inspired me to write this story at the time was that I had my first heartbreak in high school. I also knew a few years prior that I broke a mutual friend’s heart as well. While I was trying to get over MY heartbreak and developing a new crush, this new crush told me once that the Jimi Hendrix song, “Angel” reminded him of me since I was so into the moon, stars, and anything related to the sea. I was of course smitten and went to listen to the song and lyrics. The first part of the song says, ” Angel came down from heaven yesterday/ She stayed with me just long enough to rescue me/ And she told me a story yesterday/ About the sweet love between the moon and the deep blue sea….” This little bit of the song intrigued me so much that I decided to take my heartbreak and my part of being a heartbreaker and make it into a story. As I got more into my professional mermaid world, and as I would tell people about my children’s book, more people encouraged me to get it published. To stay on brand, I decided to change out the Angel to a Mermaid, and went through the motions over Covid to get it published. I felt it was time to put an uplifting story in the midst of heartbreak that could be healing.
A Mermaid’s Tale of Pearls touches on themes of love, friendship, heartbreak, and hope. How do these themes reflect your personal experiences or the lessons you’ve learned throughout your career as a mermaid and performer?
Heartbreak can come in so many forms. Besides love, in friendships, in professions, being an actor and the constant rejection. Especially when you have come so close to a role that you felt meant for you, a dream role, and it doesn’t happen. So while it definitely plays a strong role in my life, it really does play in all of ours. I felt writing a children’s book that touches on it with uplifting ending and images would be a good thing to equipt with our young generation.
You have several writing projects in motion. Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect next from Sea Angel Jenn and how your unique mermaid perspective continues to shape your writing?
LIfe has been so hectic the past few years, so some of my projects have gone to the sidelines. However, as I mentioned earlier, I have 2 mermaid shows ready for pitching. I came close to selling my pilot, “My Mom is a Mermaid”, however for a few concerning reasons it wasn’t the right match. It is still in circulation. I also have my Traveling Mermaid show that is ready to be pitched. Our entertainment business is going through some major changes or adjustments….besides coming out of the pandemic which halted most if all filming, but last year we also had the longest strike with our writers and actors. I am always mentioning both shows when I can, and when things begin to settle, I will be more active pushing both these projects, which have gotten strong positive feedback, to get them sold and out there for all to see.
