Mermaids only exist in fairy tales and movies for most, but at the Blue Zoo Aquarium these mythical sea creatures come to life three times a week.

Blue Zoo’s professional mermaids take to the water every weekend to captivate audiences with graceful acrobatics, alongside a wide variety of marine life. Children and parents line up to press their noses against the glass, eager to catch a glimpse of the mermaids as they glide effortlessly through the tank.

Among the mermaids is 27-year-old Emma Field, known to audiences as Mermaid Iris. Since Blue Zoo’s opening in 2021, Field has mesmerized guests with her underwater performances, despite having no prior experience as a performer. Instead, her background in competitive swimming and love for the water is what drew her to the role.

“I like the swimming the best,” Field said. “Sometimes I can’t believe they pay me to do this.”

Despite her love for the unique job, being a mermaid does not only require flowing through the water with fishy friends. The performers must also build immense stamina and strength to keep up with the hour-long performances. Swimming with a tail is tiring and takes some getting used to, Field said.

“It’s super cold in there too,” Field added. “As soon as you get dunked, it’s a shock to your body.”

Performers at Blue Zoo are also required to purchase their own tails, which can cost up to $500, according to Field. Once the costume is soaked by the water, the tails tend to get pretty heavy. Despite these challenges, Field loves the job, because Blue Zoo fosters a unique sense of community among the performers. She said working with the children is a big motivator for a lot of the performers.

“We make up little background characters and stuff for our mermaids,” Field said. “You get to have this little community.”

The mermaids perform in the shark tank at the front of the aquarium and swim alongside blacktip reef sharks, which are typically non-aggressive. Atop the tank is a platform with a curtain that performers use to get in and out of the water.

“There are stairs that lead to the top of the tank,” Field said. “I make sure the curtain is pulled down, put on my monofin and zip into my tail.”

Blue Zoo offers pirate shows, reptile shows and a range of interactive experiences, in addition to the weekly mermaid shows. In honor of National Mermaid Day on March 29, the Blue Zoo Aquarium will host a special event called Wish Upon A Starfish. The event will allow guests to have one-on-one interactions with all of the mermaids.

Blue Zoo’s mermaid performances offer a glimpse into a world where fantasy meets reality. While the job demands plenty of physical endurance for performers, it’s an opportunity to combine a passion for swimming with the joy of making a child’s favorite story book come true.

“I like performing, I like swimming and I like being around the animals,” Field said. “And when you get a good interactive crowd, it’s a lot of fun.”

Blue Zoo Aquarium is located at 6401 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, and the aquarium is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mermaid performances are Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.