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Transcript of Raina Magazine PDF Version
Cover Image shot by Style Envie Studios
All other photos by Raina unless specifically
indicated including background images
About ___________________________Page 3
Being a Mermaid____________________Page 6
Mermaid Faq_______________________Page 7
Math Resource _____________________Page 10
2011 in Review_____________________Page 11
Underwater Modelling________________Page 14
Raina is a Canadian mermaid in her mid-
20's located in Halifax. She currently owns two tails. One tail was made
by a mermaid company no longer in business and is an orange stretch
vinyl tail with sim fins. Raina refers to this as her "practice" tail. Raina's
other tail will soon be ready for retirement. It is a realistic latex tail
originally created by the mertailor but re-made by Raven of Mebellas due
to sizing issues.
Raina performs in the water and on land.
She can currently hold her breath for 2 minutes stagnate and is working
on going longer. Raina also entertains with a focus on education about
the environment and encouraging literacy. Raina believes in nurturing
imagination, spreading information, and inspiring children (and adults) to
follow their dreams. Raina does birthday parties, charity work, pool
performing, mermaid encounters, professional modelling, festivals,
children's events, and more.
Raina is inspired by the many other women
who perform as mermaids including the original mermaid Annette
Kellerman. Raina is always inspired by the work of the David Suzuki
Foundation and local Halifax activist groups. Raina aknowledges the
generous finacial support of sponsors who helped her afford her tails new
and old.
Being a mermaid is something I dreamed of since a child like many of the professional
mers out there today. I'd sit as a young girl on my grandmother's marble flooring pretending it
was the ocean or a river and I was the resident mermaid.
When I became an adult and learned through the internet that there were people out
there actually making this dream come true I was shell shocked. I spent years researching and
putting money aside to get my tail.
After some fund-raising I managed to finally purchase a tail but my journey wasn't ready
to begin. The tail has issues and it would be almost another year before a wonderful mer
(Raven of Merbellas) took the time to fix it for me.
I always reflect on the
help I got along the way
that made my dream
possible. There are so many
people who invested time or
money and information.
There are so many people
who still inspire me and
inform me. I try to be as
informative to other
prospective mers as I can. I
hope in reading my journal
and articles that you'll find
some information if you
want to become a mer, or
some inspiration to chase
after your own dream!
Background image by Mark Anthony Ramsay Photography
Q. How many types of tails are there?
A. Many! Some people make tails out of
different types of fabric, usually swim
fabric. Some make tails from latex or
silicone too.
Q. What's a monofin?
A. A monofin is a special dive fin used
mainly by free divers. Mermaid tails are
generally made with one if they are
swimmable. The monofin is shaped like a
mermaid fluke and both feet go in the one
fin. Swimmers use a dolphin kick to move
quickly through the water. It really works
your core!
Q. What's the most difficult thing about
swimming in a mermaid tail?
A. It's tricky to learn to swim with your
legs together. Never attempt to swim in
your tail alone or with your legs tied
together. Professional mermaids always
have people nearby even if you don't see
them in photos.
Q. How long can you hold your breath?
A. My best time so far was 2 minutes
stagnate outside of the water. My best
under water is 1-1.5 minutes. I am hoping
to improve it. I never practice breath
holds by myself in the pool.
Q. How do I make a mermaid tail?/Can
you make me a mermaid tail?
A. I do not make mermaid tails. You can
find great tutorials on mernetwork.com
Q. Are you a good swimmer?
A. I wasn't for a very long
time! I always swam with
something to float on as a
kid. As a teen I taught myself
to swim but didn't venture
under water much because I
always got ear infections.
When I started with my
mermaid tail it was so
amazing, the tail had so
much power! I swim very
well in my tail now but
believe it or not still not so
great with my human legs!
Q. Where can I buy a
mermaid tail? Who do you
recommend?
A. There are so many tail
makers out there now and
new ones coming!
Mermaidtails.net has a great
list. I recommend reading
reviews. Choose someone
reliable where you'll
get the best bang
for your buck!
Photo by Style Envie Studios
Raina is a big supporter of the arts. This image was taken at Dr. Sketchy Halifax.
Dr. Sketchy is a drawing group that meets monthly. 19+ only cover applies. Check them out
Jelly Fish are one of the main prey of all species of sea turtles. But
these creatures known to live up and over 100 years are dying from ingesting plastic bags.
In the water plastic bags look like jellyfish. You can help! Make sure all your plastic bags
are recycled and replace them with recycled reusable bags! No more plastic in our ocean.
Photo shot by Raina
Photo by Mark Anthony Ramsay Photography
MATH RESOURCE Raina was a mermaid
Or so the story goes
Where she had a long orange tail
People had feet and toes
That wasn’t the only difference
As Raina came to see
Between herself and the humans
Why they were as different as could be!
But Raina liked to learn
and to her it was a pleasure
and lately she’d become obsessed
with learning how to measure
Oh she had rulers and protractors
A big stick and then some tape
but there was just one simple little thing
That Raina couldn’t get as of late
When the people built their houses
and their pools made out of concrete
Why couldn’t they have measured in FINS
Instead of measuring in Feet!
Didn’t they know that mermaids
Had beautiful flukes and a fin
Measuring in feet made no sense
but she knew where to begin!
She started in a place
That all mermaids really love
And measured 3 fins across
For her cozy indoor tub
Next she headed to the pool
and didn’t miss a beat!
It was only 30 fins across
Not 57 feet!
Her last trip was to the ocean
and she gaped around the beach
measuring it all in fins?
A goal she might not reach…
So if you ask her how to measure
she’ll tell you with a grin
“Forget about all that tape-
simply use your fin!”
- Copyright Raina 2011
Watch the video for this poem here
Download and print the math lesson plan here
Raina's resources are free for you to use
2011 IN REVIEW 2011 Started with a bang when Raina
received her tail after a makeover by
Raven of Merbellas. Raina was quick to
put the tail to use at the MSVU
Children's carnival and modelling for Dr.
Sketchy Halifax!
Raina was featured in her local paper's Arts and Life section, as well as online, and on the cover!
Raina enjoyed participating at World Ocean's Day the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
and educating children at the annual RBC Multiculural Festival.
Raina took part in the Mahone Bay Pirate's festival as well as many other related events.
She was also invited to speak at Mount Saint Vincent University three times during the
year to pre-service teachers.
Raina posed for many photoshoots and was excited to have her work on display at the MSVU
Art Gallery Community Show. You can see more highlights of what Raina did in 2011 on this
part of her website and in her images on facebook. Happy swimming!
RAINA'S SHELL TOP was made by the talented Cydney Mermaid
Photo by Mark Anthony Ramsay Photography
There are many talented mers in the community who make tops,
jewellery, and mer accessories. Come and join the community forum
today to meet some of these mer-artisans and place your orders!
UNDERWATER MODELLING comes with the territory for
many professional mer. But looking graceful and natural underwater is not as effortless as
many mers would have you convinced. Because we do not wear goggles most mers struggle
seeing underwater especially in chlorine. A mer is basically blind and depth of field can be
tricky to judge. The tails are excellent for swimming but many tails are also buoyant and it can
be a challenge to stay underwater for more than a few seconds if not moving. Many
professionals mers opt for heavier tails and work on their own muscle mass to help them sink.
A mer does not need to have a long breath hold to model well underwater but it certainly helps
to have experience in scuba diving, free diving, and snorkelling. Having assistants will make a
big difference as well as working with a photographer who has some experience in underwater
photography.
Some mers may be ambitious and want to do their own photos themselves. There are many
excellent and affordable point and shoot digital underwater cameras on the market. The best
photos will always come from high end digital SLRs inside a housing but this is also a very
expensive route.
Jewellery and mer accessories can also do a
lot for your photos. Wearing belts with
netting, necklaces with fake plants and
shells, and hair ornaments will add to the
mermaid mystique.
Keeping your expression in the mood you
want can be tricky as well! It's hard to resist
the urge to close your eyes and scrunch up
your face underwater. Spending time
practicing your expression and seeing how it
translates in the shots will help you once
you're modelling for the photographer.
You can always practice in the bath tub too!
Frequent Question Asked by Reporters:
"Raina, how do children react when they see you?"
Raina:
"They don't always react the same, but 9 times out of 10 it's
usually funny...."
Raina is the outer expression of my most inner self.
Self Portrait by Raina
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