Teacher conquers fear of the sea to become a professional mermaid

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A woman has revealed how she conquered her fear of swimming in the ocean so she could become a professional mermaid.

Kirsten Waddle, 24, from Aberdeen, Scotland, has been obsessed with the mythical sea creatures since watching Disney classic 'The Little Mermaid' as a child.

But the primary school teacher was so frightened of deep water and worried there were sharks swimming below that she couldn't go in.

However determined to achieve her dream of dressing like the animated character Ariel, she purchased her first mermaid tail and vowed to beat her fear of the ocean and deep waters.

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Kirsten said of the mermaid convention in London that is was amazing to see so many people with the same passion: 'I couldn't believe it when I got there, it was like a dream.

'Watching them, I just wanted to join in and forget about my nerves. There were mermaids of all shapes, sizes and styles - the only thing they had in common was the passion they had for being a mermaid.'

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