Florida woman's mermaid costume banned from pools

TAMPA, Fla., July 16 (UPI) -- A Florida woman who was banned from wearing her silicon mermaid suit in her district's pools said she just wanted to "show some magic" to the community.

Jenna Conti, who uses the pseudonym Eden Sirene when performing in her custom-made mermaid suit, said she was told by the Community Development District in Tampa's Fishhawk Ranch area that she can't wear her costume in public pools due to the "no-fin" policy, WTVT-TV, Tampa, reported Tuesday.

"We love what's she trying to do, be kind to children and do something good for the community. We love her intentions -- it's simply that it violates rules," board chair Terrie Morrison said.

Conti, whose age wasn't given, said her mermaid fins don't have the same dangers as those the rules were designed to combat.

"This can't come flinging off in a pool like swim fin, and it's not made of a hard plastic," she said.

She said she only wants to make people happy.

"It makes me feel amazing makes children smile makes adults smile, everybody happy, you don't expect to see a mermaid at the pool," Conti said.

Conti said her goal is to swim underwater at the Florida Aquarium.

"We just wanted to show some magic here in Fishhawk, that's all," she says.