Heidrun Barth said she grew up adoring the Disney character Ariel and even claimed the Little Mermaid books, dreaming that one day she also could transform her human legs into a tail.

I have an inclination that I'm really a mermaid that was conceived in an inappropriate body, the body of a human, she said.

Despite the fact that I am deaf means that I am fit to live in the sea because I have no problem communicating in sign language when I am underwater.

So one day, Heidrun, who has three daughters, Milena (now 11), Silena (now 9), and Roselena (now 5), enrolled her daughters in a mermaid course. I had heard of a special mermaid course for children, which I thought was a great idea.
So I went to enroll my children and they said I could participate too, recalls Heidrun. I told them that it was surely only for children and not for adults, it would never have occurred to me to participate in such a thing. Be that as it may, this was for my children, I had a good excuse.

The 41 year old woman has spent more than €15000 on her own Ariel tail and dreams of buying a seaside house with a pool so she can swim in her tail whenever she wants.
According to Heidrun, her daughters have also really liked mermaids, and the youngest two have multiple books and toys about mythical creatures. The mother of three said her family had been incredibly supportive of her double life, including taking photos and recording videos of her.

Now she presents herself as a mermaid to the public, including children, and now started selling tailored sequin tails.

People generally praise my looks and tell me they really like what I do, said Heidrun. Sometimes people cannot believe that I am deaf. They think that being a mermaid and being deaf do not go hand in hand. Then I tell them no, that I am really deaf.