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Heidrun Barth said growing up she loved the Disney character Ariel and even owned The Little Mermaid books – dreaming that one day she too could turn her human legs into a tail.
“I feel like I'm actually a mermaid who was born in the wrong body – the body of a human,” she said.
“Even the fact that I'm deaf means I'm suited for a life in the sea because I don't have any problem communicating in sign language when I'm underwater.”
Then one day Heidrun – who has three daughters, Milena (now 11), Silena (now 9) and Roselena (now 5) – signed her daughters up to a mermaid course.
“I’d heard of a special mermaid course for children, which I thought was a great idea. So I went to sign up my children and was told I could participate as well,” Heidrun recalls.
“I told them surely this was just for children and not for grown-ups – it would never have occurred to me to take part in such a thing. But since this was for my children I had a good excuse”
“Of course, once we got there I was completely hooked. I tried on a tail for the first time and just really enjoyed the experience.”
The 41-year-old has spent more than R25 000 on her own Ariel tail and dreams of buying a house by the sea with a pool so she can swim in her tail whenever she wants.
According to Heidrun, her daughters have also taken a strong liking to mermaids, with the two youngest owning multiple books and toys about the mythical creatures.
The mom of three said her family have been incredibly supportive of her double life – even taking pictures and shooting videos of her.
She now performs as a mermaid for audiences, including children, and last year began selling custom-made sequined tails.
“Usually people compliment my looks and tell me they really like what I do,” Heidrun said.
“Sometimes people can't believe I'm deaf. They think being a mermaid and being deaf don't go together. Then I just tell them that no, I'm really deaf”
Source: Magazine Features
Photo: MEDIADRUMWORLD/WWW.MAGAZINEFEATURES.CO.ZA
