Performing inside a massive, 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium located in the centre of a busy luxury casino requires an incredible amount of physical stamina and highly specific training. Chloe, originally a competitive swimmer from Manchester, spends over four hours a day entirely submerged in cold water, wearing a highly restrictive, incredibly heavy silicone tail. We caught up with her between shows to discuss the unusual reality of her aquatic career.
10 October 2026 • Exclusive Interview • Las Vegas, USA
Life as a Professional Mermaid in Las Vegas
When most people imagine a career in Las Vegas, they think of card dealers, famous singers, or chefs. However, Chloe Evans has a much wetter, highly unusual profession: she is a full-time, professional mermaid.
NativeUK: Chloe, how physically difficult is it to be a professional mermaid?
It is incredibly demanding. People assume we just elegantly float around, but the silicone tail weighs almost 35 pounds when wet! You have to constantly actively swim just to avoid sinking to the bottom. Plus, we don't use oxygen tanks during the show. I have to hold my breath for nearly three minutes while aggressively smiling and waving at tourists who are eating expensive seafood, completely ignorant to how hard my lungs are burning.
NativeUK: Have you ever had any dangerous moments in the tank?
Oh, constantly! We share the tank with hundreds of real, live stingrays and sharks. They are usually very peaceful, but occasionally a fish will mistake my shiny tail scales for food and try to take a bite. It can be quite a hazardous environment. The worst moment, however, was when my waterproof bikini top completely snapped during a major VIP show. I was absolutely embarrassed and had to rapidly swim behind an artificial coral reef to hide!
NativeUK: Why do you continue to do such an unusual, physically stressful job?
Because it is completely magical. When I swim down to the thick glass and see the looks on the little children's faces, it makes the freezing water and the burning lungs totally worth it. They genuinely believe they are seeing a real mythical creature. It is a wonderful feeling to bring that much joy to people's lives. It might not be as glamorous as it looks, but I love it.
Chloe's unique career choice highlights the bizarre entertainment economy of Las Vegas, where literally anything is possible if it attracts a crowd. Her intense physical dedication completely shatters the illusion that being a mythical creature is an easy job.
As she rigorously stretches her legs and prepares to squeeze back into her heavy, glittering silicone tail for the evening performance, Chloe completely embodies the phrase 'the show must go on'. She proves that creating real magic often requires an incredible amount of invisible hard work.
Discussion & Analysis
- Could you comfortably hold your breath underwater for over two minutes while exercising?
- Why do you think humans are so fascinated by mythical creatures like mermaids?
- Do you think professional performers are properly compensated for incredibly dangerous jobs?
- Would you prefer to work a normal office job, or a highly unusual, physically demanding one?
- If you could safely swim with any dangerous sea creature, what would you choose?
💬 Reader Comments
Loading comments...