News
Mermaids R Us
KIM DAME
Published: October 31, 2012
Name: Mermaids R UsPublished: October 31, 2012
Website: mermaidsrus.com
Sandy Hoaglin is known by some as the Mermaid Lady. And she is ok with that descriptor. Why not? Hoaglin lives on a quiet canal in Hernando Beach that circulates cool river water to and from Weeki Wachee Springs. And she is a mother of an actual Weeki Wachee mermaid, Kylee Troche, who is one of the most widely photographed Weeki Wachee mermaids ever in the history of the famous attraction. Kylee Troche was crowned Mrs. Weeki Wachee and is the only pageant holder who is also a Weeki Wachee Mermaid. Moreover, Troche titled the International Mermaid for a mermaid pageantry. And she is the face of Mermaid Mineral Makeup. But what really seems to tie Hoaglin with the Mermaid Lady title is what she does inside her workshop beneath her home. Here among piles of fabric, tint, and other random artsy pieces of crafty material, Hoaglin measures, cuts, glues and applies tint to the silicone for tails that look and feel so authentic, you might be tempted to believe that mermaids are actually born in her workshop. Hoaglin pulled out several publications where her tails have been displayed. And like a true artist who has found a way to work her passion, Hoaglin can't hide the pride she feels each time she spots one of her designs. Dig a little deeper and you realize that her pride is expounded when the success of her children becomes part of the discussion. Many of her tails decorate the glossy pages of periodicals, like Mermaids and Mythology, with Troche as the breathtaking model. For Hoaglin, it's the ultimate reward because her children and her craft are the forces that keep her smiling. Hoaglin is inventive; a trait she believes came from her father who is an actual inventor. When her daughter couldn't comfortably wear the realistic Weeki Wachee tails for photo shoots because she was allergic to latex, the material they were made from, Hoaglin's creative mind started thinking in terms of creating. "She would break out every time she put the tails on," Hoaglin said. Kylee Troche, who has an impressive resume of work in the public eye, is every bit as grounded as her mother in work ethic. Rather than refuse to participate in the photo opportunities, she instead layered on several pairs of tights so her skin would not come into contact with the latex. But Hoaglin is a mom first and her daughter's comfort was her top priority. Inspired by her Troche's need, Hoaglin came up with a design that used silicone instead of latex. "I use the same silicone that Dancing with the Stars uses," she said. After researching, she developed a process of tinting and then sculpting the silicone to form the tails. "I don't make a sculpture and pour the silicone in," she said. "I actually sculpt each tail. That's why my tails are unique. No two can be exactly the same." All of her tails start with a liner. "They have to be able to slide the tails on," she said. The liner is another unique feature of Mermaids R Us tails. Competitors' tails require excessive body greasing. Hoaglin's tails became even more elaborate as she tested and experimented with different materials and designs. She is currently working on one that is lighter in weight. "They typically weigh about ten pounds," she said. "I'm trying to make them lighter but with good stretch factor." Sandy Hoaglin is an artist who's tails reflect her creativity. Even the fins are realistic, designed to move like those of a fish as they glide through the water. She has a few different designs of fins to choose from. Mermaids R Us makes mermaid tails for Weeki Wachee Springs as well as taking orders online for custom tails. Her designs are in demand for all kinds of reasons, from little girls' costumes to big broadcasting events all over the country. They've appeared on the Chelsea Lately Show. They are all the rage at Mermaid conventions. Even Jimmy Buffet used Sandy's tails in a video he'd taped at Weeki Wachee Springs and to show at his live concerts. Mermaids are big business. "There is this whole world that you don't even know about," Hoaglin said with a laugh. "I've met some neat people, like Thom Shouse (The Tail Man), who is the tail designer for Splash and also did the tail for Phoebe off of Charmed," she said. "I'm proud to say he likes my work." Who buys these tails? You might be surprised, Hoaglin said. She recently had a customer who was obsessed with the tail in Splash. "So I made a replica of the Splash tail." Clearly there is more involved with being the Mermaid Lady than meets the eye. But those who are lucky enough to pass by Sandy Hoaglin's home while mermaid tails are draped over the balcony get a little glimpse of what living in paradise means. For Hoaglin, it's about the passion she has for life, her art and family. "I get excited every time I get to do a new creation," she said. Kim Dame is a correspondent for Hernando Today. She can be reached at Damewrites@yahoo.com.