Mermaid girl pursues her childhood dream

Pan Gaojie, a Chongqing girl, dresses like a mermaid and poses for photos in the water in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, July 27, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Pan Gaojie, 22, a professional model, found a way to make her childhood dreams of being a mermaid come true through working for a motor show in Yuelai.

Pan first tried to dress like a mermaid and performed in the water during a promotion for a hotel in last summer.

"It was a really fabulous experience," Pan said. But she was dissatisfied with the costume provided by the organizer. So she ordered a customized mermaid costume from a friend who was a tailor for the price of 2500 yuan.

Determined to take her enthusiasm for mermaids to the next level, she made custom-made tails by herself. She opened an online shop named "Empire of Atlantis", selling custom-made tails at prices varying from 1,800 to 4,000 yuan. The sales have reached more than a dozen.

Though doctors have warned Pan that she should not swim due to her rhinitis and tympanitis, she said, "I really enjoy wearing mermaid costumes in the water, I like the feelings of freedom and weightlessness. This is my dream." To pursue this dream, Pan had to think of another way.

Unfortunately, selling custom-made tails doesn't bring in enough profit. However, Pan said, "I never rely on it making money, this is my hobby, so I'll stick to it."