KAZZIE MAHINA WAS BORN TO BE A MERMAID.

Growing up on the South Coast of New South Wales for much of her young life, Kazzie spent all her spare moments at the beach and in the ocean. Beachcombing and exploring magical rock pools inspired a profound connection with the natural world.

Kazzie's first attempt at Mermaiding started as a game. She tied her legs together with an old piece of rope and transformed herself into a 'real' mermaid living under an old boat, intent on spending her life with the dolphins and whales that swam past her little beach. In this simple game the seeds of Kazzie's lifelong passion and purpose were sown.

Fast forward to Byron Bay in 2004, Kazzie and her friend Hannah were invited to swim with the dolphins for a community 'water awareness' commercial.

Rather than just swimming with the dolphins, the girls decided they were going to do their best to look like them, so they made and swam in silver dolphin tails. Not long after her this life-changing experience Kazzie Mahina began a solo journey around the world with nothing but a bag on her back and her tail over her shoulder.

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It was during her travels that Mahina began to deeply understand how to manifest her Mermaid dream.

Mahina and her friend Hannah, independently, and in their own unique ways, trailblazed a completely new career genre as 'Professional Mermaids'. In 2005 there was no such thing as a Professional Mermaid career, and most people thought this magical idea was a little bit crazy. Nevertheless, the girls knew there was a place for Mermaiding in the world– so they went out and turned the magic into reality.

Upon returning home to Byron Bay a year later, and with the assistance of two special-effects artists on the Gold Coast, Kazzie started making her own tails out of latex and silicone. Honing her craft, she soon created a design that not only looked realistic but was completely functional: Mahina Mermaid was born!

In 2005 Mahina played around with the idea of sharing mermaid tails with the world. She created full-length mermaid tails similar to the style she herself wears as a professional mermaid. During the proto-type creation phase, Mahina had a profound realisation that instantly changed her direction. Intuitively, Mahina didn't feel comfortable putting children or inexperienced users into full-length Mermaid tails. After testing the initial product it became her opinion that full-length Mermaid tails are for highly trained aquatic athletes and performers only. She decided to modify the design and create a product that could still give the wearer the feeling, excitement and experience of being a Mermaid, in the safest and most practical way possible.

Realizing how potent the Mermaid archetype was as a metaphor for the connection between humans and the natural world, Mahina began to explore ways she could use her talents and her fins for environmental conservation. She felt education was the key. What better way to inspire future generations than to create tails, with tales?

So began a six-year journey in design, innovation and hard work, taking this Mermaid to three continents in quest of the perfect product and message to offer the world.

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In 2006 Mahina began the creation of her MerFin. Being just a mermaid with passion in her heart it took a few years to get the design right and off the ground. Eventually after many prototypes Mahina released her unique product to market in 2011 and as a result was responsible for the first functional, high performance mermaid mono swim fin available...

In 2004 Mahina played around with the idea of sharing mermaid tails with the world. She created full-length mermaid tails similar to the style she herself wears as a professional mermaid. During the proto-type creation phase, Mahina had a profound realisation that instantly changed her direction. Intuitively, Mahina didn't feel comfortable putting children or inexperienced users into full-length Mermaid tails. After testing the initial product it became her opinion that full-length Mermaid tails are for highly trained aquatic athletes and performers only. She decided to modify the design and create a product that could still give the wearer the feeling, excitement and experience of being a Mermaid, in the safest and most practical way possible.

Realizing how potent the Mermaid archetype was as a metaphor for the connection between humans and the natural world, Mahina began to explore ways she could use her talents and her fins for environmental conservation. She felt education was the key. What better way to inspire future generations than to create tails, with tales?

So began a six-year journey in design, innovation and hard work, taking this Mermaid to three continents in quest of the perfect product and message to offer the world.

In 2006 Mahina began the creation of her MerFin. Being just a mermaid with passion in her heart it took a few years to get the design right and off the ground. Eventually after many prototypes Mahina released her unique product to market in 2011 and as a result was responsible for the first functional, high performance mermaid mono swim fin available...

It was part of Mahina's mission to ensure the MerFins would be as environmentally friendly as possible. Her persistence paid off when she found a factory that not only used environmentally sensitive practices and machines, but who were also happy to use recycled rubber to produce the MerFin designs.

The MerFin was not only the first functional rubber Mermaid fin of its kind on the market, it was also one of the first eco-friendly/ recycled fins produced. Mahina combines her love of nature with her business aspirations, by delivering a strong message of sustainability and social responsibility.

The deepest intent Mahina holds in her heart is based on two key principles:

1. To share the love of Mermaiding with others in a safe and practical way.

2. To use this beautiful vehicle to inspire and educate all aspiring Mermaids in the most 'connected to nature' and joyous way, while valuing our living oceans and earth.

Mahina began her ocean custodian group the 'MerPod' as a place for those who love their beaches and oceans, to feel they are part of the solution & have the power to make beautiful waves with their hands, hearts and MerFins! The MerPod are actively involved in addressing the issues facing our oceans.

The MerPod is currently partnered with Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society specialising in beach cleanups. The MerPod document and track all the debris they pick up and enter it into the Australian Marine Debris Initiative Database.

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Mahina & her MerPod also work alongside close family friend & surf/music legend Jack Johnson & his family, as well as Australia Seabird Rescue.

Mahina continues to travel, enjoying special moments visiting Tonga to swim with humpback whales, as well as swimming with wild dolphins on both the east and west coast of Australia.

Her connection to the ocean is profound; she embodies the beauty and essence of the ocean.

As a professional mermaid, Mahina has become a highly sought after asset for film, TV, advertising campaigns, music videos, and exclusive VIP events in her 'Mahina Mermaid' persona. Her life as a professional Mermaid has been rich and varied – from featuring in Redfoo's 'Let's Get Ridiculous' official video clip, to corporate branding with companies such as Optus on their television, national print and billboard campaigns.

Mahina Mermaid has caught the attention of international media and has appeared in editorial features in The London Times, Elle magazine in Belgium and Quebec, Vogue UK, Tatler, and Glamour Italy. Mahina Mermaid's photograph has even been sketched and featured on page one of the Wall Street Journal, where by Mahina has been recognised as a Mermaiding Superstar.

Mahina's experience as an international professional dancer and model, combined with her impressive ability to free-dive has given her the skills to embody the magical elements of a real life mermaid. Incredibly, after many years of Mermaiding and completing a free-diver course in Thailand, Mahina reached a breath hold time of 5 minutes and 4 seconds! This was under controlled conditions with no movement, however, one might start to wonder if she might even have gills?

At the heart of all Mahina Mermaid products, campaigns and storytelling is Mahina's passion for the ocean and nature, combined with her longing for a closer connection and respect between the human and natural worlds.

Mahina manages to gracefully and effortlessly juggle her growing business, with raising her own little Mer-boy Makoa Tide and journeying in life & love with her desert-eco warrior, and tour managing husband, Max Tischler.

If she isn't dipping into waters of the world adorned with her MerFin, trekking alongside Hubby through the wild Aussie desert dunes with camel trains, or helping to raise awareness on ocean protection.. Mahina can be found surfing, dancing, snowskiing (yes! she even used to be a professional ski instructor!) tee-pee building, catching up with friends at her favourite local beaches & Byron haunts, or settling around a bonfire in their garden of their beachside home; sharing stories of their colourful adventures and valuing the connections and quality time with family and friends.

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