When most of us think of mermaids, we probably think of Ariel in The Little Mermaid or Daryl Hannah in Splash.
But Eric Montel of Atlanta is out to change all that.
The 24-year-old is a straight-up MERMAN DREAM.
"I've always been a mermaid lover since I could walk and talk," Eric told BuzzFeed. "I got my first tail in 2012 and started taking being a professional merman seriously about two years ago."
So, why mermaids? "They are the oldest mythical creature known to man," Eric told BuzzFeed. "I just love how free they are and don't have to worry about money and bills like we have to. Their personalities can go from charming to dangerous at the drop of rain. Plus, humans can't resist them."
Eric is aware that most images of mermaids in pop culture don't look like him, but he's hoping to change the perception. "I want other people that look like me to know that our skin shouldn't be what stops them from following their dreams," he said.
"Being a merman has taught me to be free. To not care what anyone thinks. To be like the ocean, to just be free and follow your own current."
"Why be normal and boring when you can be as unique and different as you want?!"
