Merman Accidentally Goes Viral After Filling In For Mermaid At A Theme Park

Some children want to be mermaids when they grow up. While most kids outgrow this dream, for some, it becomes their reality.

Professional mermaiding, in which an actor or actress puts on a show while wearing a mermaid tail, has been around since the start of the twentieth century. “Real” mermaids are now a popular attraction at theme parks around the world, including Changchun Zhongtai Ocean World in China.

One of the park’s aquarium cleaners didn’t plan to add “merman” to his resume, but hey — when duty calls, he answers! In February, the man began working part-time in his new aquatic role to fill in for a female performer who was off work for China’s Spring Festival holiday. Little did he know that he would become an overnight sensation!

The merman–who painted fake abs on his body and wiggled into a makeshift fishtail–became a fan favorite, thanks to his hilarious antics and interactions with guests. Several videos of him have gone viral, racking up millions of views–and scoring him a promotion.

The merman started out as a substitute, but now he’s working his tail off full-time. According to this flippered superstar, the bonus pay was irresistible!