Shoala! I’m Muse the Mermaid, a professional mermaid based in Miami, Florida. I spent my early childhood in the Florida Keys and have since traveled to many places around the world - but I always come home to Florida... to the sea. My connection to the ocean has always felt as though it is a part of my spirit and has never been, "just swimming", but rather an escape for inner peace. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to make a difference in the world, to help others, spread happiness, and use creativity as a driver for life experiences. I’ve always been inspired by people like Steve Irwin, Jane Goodall, and Greta Thunberg, who remind us that no matter your age, background, or circumstances, you can make an impact. I’m currently at a pivot point in my own life, one where I feel called to do more, to take action, and to use my unique talents to serve something bigger than myself.

I am an architectural designer by trade and ironically, my career has shown me how many barriers exist around access, movement, and senses. This reality opened my eyes to the everyday limitations faced by individuals who use wheelchairs or live with physical challenges. As a professional mermaid, I strive to create immersive experiences that make being a mermaid on dry land just as astonishing as if someone were to see one swimming in the sea. When I am Muse the Mermaid, my legs are bound so mobility is limited and underwater, sounds are muted as I hold my breathe. Under these circumstances, I've had to think outside the box on how to connect with others in innovative ways so they feel moved by this athletic, art form. This kind of thinking has allowed me to curate unique performances experiences. As for being underwater and not being able to speak, the answer was simple - I have to learn sign language! This realization has further deepened my understanding of how often entire communities are unintentionally left out or overlooked.

Many children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have never had the opportunity to swim, to play freely in the water, or to experience the serenity that the ocean can bring. That realization deeply moved me. My work lives at the intersection of entertainment, education, and imagination, a combination that I use to inspire children to believe that anything is possible, teaching them about our oceans, our environment, and the beauty of the natural world, and while I may not be able to bring every child into the sea, I can bring the spirit of the sea to them!

Being a mermaid may look magical, and it is, but it also requires intense training. Swimming, breath control, safety training, physical conditioning, and constant learning are all part of the work. Through it all, I’ve grown deeply grateful for my body, my health, and my ability to move - things so many of us take for granted. That gratitude is what fuels this partnership with St. Jude. I cannot begin to imagine what it feels like for children and families undergoing treatment, when bodies do not cooperate and strength is tested in ways no one should have to face, especially young children. What I can do is honor my own abilities by using them in service of others. To show up. To give back. To turn imagination into impact. This fundraiser is about using what we each have within us to make a difference. My hope is that through St. Jude’s Muse, others will feel inspired to look at their own talents, no matter how unusual, and ask "how can I use this to help?".

Thanks to you donors like you, no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food - because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. Join me! Together, we can help bring a little mermaid magic to the children and families who need it most.