I can't really grow much as a
mermaid in Arkansas because I fl
like I'm trapped in this box.
I'm a landlocked mermaid.
That's Arkansas based to
Mermaid Brittany Sparkles.
Now her story and others are beg
highlighted in the recently reld
Netflix docu series Mer People Now wake Up.
Central's Mikayla Johnson sat dn
with the landlocked mermaid her,
and now McAllen joins us with more on her
life before and after the docu series.
McAllen, good morning.
Good morning. Karen and Hayden
Mermaiding has been around for decades,
and in the Netflix docu series,
you learn the industry is worthf
a billion dollars. Brittany or.
Mermaid Sparkles has dreamed of
flapping her mermaid tale and
entertaining since she was a gu.
Sitting down with her, I learner
journey hasn't always been easy,
but brighter waters are ahead.
It's been
an out of eye experience every day. Brittany
Sparkles Story within the Netflx
docu series Mer People has
brought in waves of supporters.
Team sparkles and all this crazy
stuff I It's just hard for me to
wrap my brain around by beginnig
thin mail messages every day.
Almost all of them include someg
about how I've inspired them.
Sparkle story is unique compareo
the other featured mermaids andt
she has zero access to deep wat.
I'm a landlocked mermaid on top
of being trapped in a fishbowl.
The waters she does have aren't great
at my tails cost a lot of money.
And unfortunately, the lakes
here in Arkansas are dirty.
Still, Sparkles has endlessly
tried to find her right tank.
I go to my magic on every year because
I can take mermaid classes and expand
my knowledge and dive in deeper pools.
There is a pool that's an hour and a half
away from here that allows me to swim,
but that's quite a drive to
swim in a 12 foot deep. Well,
it's important to know Brittany Sparkle
stands at a whopping 5 foot too,
but what I'm going to tell him.
I'm close to like 6 feet long,
so even for just a few extra fe,
she'll make any drive to live her dream,
a dream she's had since she was little
and learned of mermaid performes
at Weeki Wachee Springs in Flor.
I would wrap myself in sheets and put
on some bifins and just swim ar.
Sparkles emphasizes that isn't safe practice.
And of mermaiding is on your ra.
Safety must come first. You're
disconnected from your senses.
Like like I literally cannot se,
can't breathe, can't hear. She
has loads of certifications,
including being a certified lifeguard,
scuba diver, and mermaid instru.
I've been a fish in the water
since I was a baby, but no mattr
how good you are in the water.
It's still a life threatening
place to be. While
the dangers of mermaiding are evident,
the half a billion dollar
industry grows and thrives.
It's just this magical
thing that unites us all.
It's a complete lifestyle for m.
It's completely consumed my lif.
So that's so cool for me
to sit down with her.
I had a really fun time.
But the next big thing after the
docu series for Brittany Sparkls
is she's going to be at the Cara
Renaissance Festival is she's gg
to be there for two straight mo.
So that's her longest performane
contract that she's had And so
some big things are ahead for h.
I would imagine this tough to
make money in an industry that
specific details for example,
we can't get any idea what they cost.
Yeah, so she told me
that her tails they can
cost anywhere from $7000
upwards and so it is so.
It's some people, they do it for fun.
You know, they make a career out of it.
But you're you're spending a lof
money if you're taking part on .
She's the Little Rock mermaid. Little
Rock mermaid, Yes.
And as you heard, you know,
she's a landlocked mermaid.
There's not a lot of things that she can do.
And she talks about the Arkansas water.
So big thing about mermaiding,
you're going to be underwater.
And so there's not really that
much that she can take part in.
So she has to travel for her pos
to go get and go getting those.
And so it's been difficult,
but as you can see,
you know, right.
What better way to check it out?
Netflix. Exactly. Yes,
you can watch it is It is out.
There's about four to five epis,
I believe, and so not a bad wat.
I was a maker makes her a star,.