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Fin-tastic! Growing ‘mermaiding’ subculture makes a splash

Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, prepares for a swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. There is a strong need, especially after COVID-related lockdowns, to simply play and enjoy creativity, Metzler says. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, prepares for a swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. There is a strong need, especially after COVID-related lockdowns, to simply play and enjoy creativity, Metzler says. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, prepares for a swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. There is a strong need, especially after COVID-related lockdowns, to simply play and enjoy creativity, Metzler says. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) The tail of Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, lies on the sand as she prepares for an early morning swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. "Some people have a coffee in the morning to wake up, some people have a mermaid swim," Metzler says with a laugh as she glides through the water, her skin adorned with sparkly sequins. "This tail is so fun to swim in!" (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, washes her tail after a swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. Across the world, people are increasingly embracing the subculture of “mermaiding.” At its simplest, these are humans of all genders, shapes and backgrounds who enjoy dressing up as mermaids. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, walks from the water at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, swims at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. "Some people have a coffee in the morning to wake up, some people have a mermaid swim," Metzler says with a laugh as she glides through the water, her skin adorned with sparkly sequins. "This tail is so fun to swim in!" (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, prepares for a swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. Metzler received her advanced mermaid certification this month with a goal of teaching rookie merfolk how to avoid sinking to the seabed. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, prepares for a swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. “The more we open up our imagination and accept everyone for how they are, it makes it more of a beautiful experience,” she says. “The sky _ or ocean floor _ is the limit of what you can do with mermaiding.” (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, prepares for a swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 26, 2022. There is a strong need, especially after COVID-related lockdowns, to simply play and enjoy creativity, Metzler says. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Queen Pangke Tabora swims in her monofin as she demonstrates techniques to her mermaiding class in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The former insurance company worker described the experience of gliding under water, half-human and half-fish, as “meditation in motion.” (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Queen Pangke Tabora kisses her dog "Choknut" before teaching freediving and mermaiding classes at the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Queen Pangke Tabora lies in bed with her dog "Choknut" inside their room at the Ocean Camp where she conducts freediving and mermaiding classes in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Queen Pangke Tabora, right, and her students prepare for a mermaiding class at the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Sunday, May 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Queen Pangke Tabora, right, swims with her students, from left, Shelah Candado, Jennica Secuya and Meryll Louise Reque, during a mermaiding class in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Sunday, May 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Filipina Jennica Secuya, left, swims with other students during a mermaiding class in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Sunday, May 22, 2022. Away from the critics and chaos of life on land, mer-world is the kinder, gentler and more joyful alternative to the real world. It is also a world, merfolk say, where you can be whoever and whatever you want. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Filipina Jennica Secuya swims in her mermaid suit during a mermaiding class in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Sunday, May 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Queen Pangke Tabora, right, conducts a mermaiding class in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Across the world, people are increasingly embracing the subculture of “mermaiding.” (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Queen Pangke Tabora conducts a freediving classs at the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Saturday, May 21, 2022. There was a pivotal moment in her life that eclipsed all others: It was the moment, she says, when she first slid her legs into a mermaid tail. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) The mermaid tail of Queen Pangke Tabora rests as a freediving class is conducted at the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Sunday, May 22, 2022. Across the world, there are thousands more merfolk like her _ at its simplest, humans of all shapes, genders and backgrounds who enjoy dressing up as mermaids. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Queen Pangke Tabora swims in her mermaid suit while she conducts a mermaiding class in front of the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Sunday, May 22, 2022. “The world outside is really noisy and you will find peace under water. … It’s a good skill in the real world, especially during the pandemic.” (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Queen Pangke Tabora swims in her mermaid suit as she conducts a mermaiding class in front of the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines on Sunday, May 22, 2022. For the transgender Filipina woman approaching middle age, seeing her legs encased in vibrant, scaly-looking neoprene three years ago was the realization of a childhood dream. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)