Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiree De Jongh.
Hi Desiree, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am Loreley Pearl Beach Mermaid. I am a Professional Mermaid Performer with 10 years of experience this past June. I always played mermaid in the pool when I was little, loved diving into the deep end, and just being underwater. Shortly after my son was born, I saw the TLC episode “My Crazy Obsession” featuring Mertailor. This began the dream of being a professional mermaid. I enrolled in a small business class that, honestly, wasn’t that helpful; it was really more about opening a product-based business, not a service-based one. Nevertheless, it got me somewhat started, and I created Loreley Pearl Beach Mermaid and her backstory. Loreley is the result of a “What Type of Mermaid Are You?” quiz and some of my own personal history. In 2015, we were coming home from Walt Disney World, stopped at Mertailor’s shop, and ordered my first tail. The tail arrived that March, and I had my first event in June at the San Marcos Library, where they were hosting “Castle Carnival”. Shortly after, I moved down to Galveston to attend Texas A&M University for Marine Biology, where I had many events during my time on the island. In addition to being a performer, I have branched into a different side of mermaiding over the past few years. After moving to College Station, I became a certified PADI Mermaid Instructor and work alongside other mermaids at Aggieland Scuba. When I’m not performing, I can still be a mermaid and share that magic. Becoming certified was important to me because it helps set a standard that has been missing in the performance realm. Tail safety has always been something I have been mindful of and an advocate for, especially since I have my own child who wants to swim in one. Now my entire family is certified, and each has their own tail, although mine gets the most use. I love what I do, whether it is performing or teaching; with this path, there is always so much to learn.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been smooth sailing, as I would say. Starting out as a mermaid was not as popular as it is today, so people did not always understand what I did or what I could offer. I was also balancing starting a business, being in university full-time, and being a single mother. I was definitely more limited in what events I could do, as I only had my mother to be my assistant while she was also babysitting my son, usually at the event. This did work well, as many of my events at the time were family events, so there was no worry there. Then I took a break, of course, during COVID and was also now in a new city. Everything really struggled coming back from the shutdowns, but also being in a new city with an already established mermaid has been more of a challenge than I thought, but I have still created my own world and web of opportunities within those constraints. Now I am figuring out what all of this looks like full-time as I no longer work a 9-5 on top of running a mermaid business.
As you know, we’re big fans of Loreley Pearl Beach Mermaid. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I offer my services to public events, private events, birthday parties, zoos, aquariums, children’s museums, and, of course, Renaissance faires and festivals. These appearances can range from fantasy-based to general mermaid appearances to education- and conservation-based interactions. I am mainly known for my Renaissance faire and time period performances, though it has become a bit of a specialty. I offer different party packages for birthday parties that include a handmade gift and an original story of the high seas that I have written for myself and my pirate companion. I think something that sets me apart from others is how much thought I have put into my backstory; it offers a truly immersive experience. Currently, I am most proud of my latest project, Calliope the Mermaid Tank. The tank was originally a 500-gallon dunk tank, but I created a more period-appropriate overlay for it that I built entirely on my own. I want potential clients to know that if they book Loreley Pearl Beach Mermaid, they are receiving a piece of me; they are getting heart and soul in my performances.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I am not sure yet; I am still getting to know the city. I moved to College Station in 2020, and then about two months later, everything shut down because of COVID. I never really got to experience things until years later, and there are still new things I am finding and learning about the area. At the very least, game day traffic can be a pain to deal with, or any big event happening at Kyle Field for that matter.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loreley_pearl_beach/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loreleypearlbeach/
