Today we’d like to introduce you to Abbey Blake
Hi Abbey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up loving the ocean and Ariel was my favorite Disney Princess at the time, so I would always pretend to be her in the bathtub or while swimming in the pool. I even would put a pool ring around my ankles and swim like a mermaid while watching my mermaid-like shadow underwater. (I do not recommend this!) The water has always been a part of me. I grew up in Louisiana, but moved to Nashville, TN in 2010, where I taught mommy and me swim classes, music classes, as well as nannied for families around the area. I ended up growing a large network of families in the area and started my own children’s entertainment company performing at birthday parties and events. Back then, mermaid tails were not near as accessible as they are now, so my first tail was a custom made, full silicone tail. I used it so much that after a few years, it had rips and tears and was very well-loved! Throughout the years, social media started to become more of a thing and I decided to hop on the trend. I started getting into video production, photography and modeling and realized how much I enjoyed creating in and around water. This led to modeling gigs, influencer deals, and now, a full fledged business of coaching the next generation of underwater model and photography enthusiasts all about the art of creating underwater!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been ANYTHING but smooth! When I first started, there were very few people doing what I do, which meant very little resources. I spent hours researching and crafting and creating something that simply did not exist at the time. I am so grateful to the people who believed in me and supported me along the way. And once the community did begin to grow into what it is today, that meant more “haters” and negativity (which I find a key indicator of success!) on my channels. This is common with truly any niche. It was important to me to search out the friends that loved me and supported me as I grew, not the ones that saw me as “competition.” I am so lucky to be surrounded by an incredible family of creators and friends that I can grow with!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am known mostly for my underwater modeling work, specifically scuba-assisted modeling. This technique has been used in the film industry for years, but has not been accessible to the public, which my partner, Justin Lutsky, and I have set out to change. Justin is an underwater photographer and cinematographer with a degree in film production and together, we run local and travel workshops all around the world teaching the art of underwater modeling through breath work coaching, pool training, safety training, and all with our network of certified dive professionals on liveaboards, at luxury resorts, in private pools and more. There are plenty of people out there hosting “mermaid retreats” and workshops, but we are the only ones offering this level of training and instruction in the underwater creative community. It is so incredibly rewarding to watch these models and photographers grow in just a week from novices to pros. You can find out more at SubmergeUnderwater.com or follow us at @SubmergeUnderwater.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The underwater and diving community has grown significantly in the past ten years. There are mermaid conventions, diving events, and even official mermaid certifications you can get (which we offer as well!) through different dive agencies. There have also been a lot more people getting into the underwater portrait photography niche, something that used to be so obscure and unheard of. They say “a rising tide lifts all boats,” and I truly hope that is the case as I meet more and more underwater enthusiasts through my travels and adventures. If you’ve ever wanted to be a mermaid, now is definitely the time to dive in! I’ve started the OC Merfolk Pod where I host free, monthly meetups for existing mermaids or people just interested in learning more about it and wanting to try it. It’s been so rewarding and I look forward to the OC Pod growing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://submergeunderwater.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/everyday.mermaid, instagram.com/submergeunderwater, instagram.com/jlutskyphoto
- Facebook: facebook.com/youreverydaymermaid, facebook.com/submergeunderwater
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Everyday.Mermaid, https://www.youtube.com/@submergeunderwater
- Other: Read Reviews: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Submerge/@46.423669,-129.9427085,3z/data=!4m8!3m7!1s0x6d485f9194559189:0x5a027336720c3a00!8m2!3d46.423669!4d-129.9427086!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11smkqdtzf?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDgyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Image Credits
All photos are of me, Abbey Blake (Everyday Mermaid,) as the model, taken by Justin Lutsky (Submerge Underwater.)
