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JESSICA PENNINGTON, 27, works in PR and marketing for a rail construction company and is from Brentwood, Essex. She says: “I’ve been into mermaids as long as I can remember.

“I saw Disney’s The Little Mermaid from about three – ever since then anything to do with mermaids I love.

“I’ve always loved swimming and I find the sea very calming – when you swim as a mermaid, it is very tranquil, like being in another universe. In 2015 I saw an advert for a mermaid course – a free-diving holiday where they teach you to dive and swim like a mermaid and you get a photoshoot and so on. It was the first time I’d met people who loved mermaids as much as I did – before I’d always felt like a bit of an oddball because of it.

“My family have indulged me, but never understood it.

“I feel I belong in the water – when I’m swimming with a tail, I really feel like a mermaid. You get that feeling of magic.

“I know I’m really a human wearing a tail, but some people do actually really believe they are mermaids.

“There are people who get a sexual kick from mermaids, merverts. Some girls have been stalked, while others will try to pretend they want to hire a girl for a party which doesn’t exist.

“I have a silicone tail which cost £1,500 and weighs 13kilos.

“And it’s not just girls who are mermaids – there are quite a few mermen too and, no, they’re not all gay! After all, mermaids need boyfriends!

“I’m single but if a guy was bothered by mermaiding, I wouldn’t even entertain the idea of dating them. “They wouldn’t need to be involved in it, but it would

be fun it they could!”