Meet Trailblazer Zuzanna Czerny

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zuzanna Czerny.

Zuzanna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I GET IT, THE PRESSURE IS HIGH… to live a perfect and happy life. You want to be your very best, but it’s hard. It’s super difficult. I’m sure this also applies to your everyday work life. Half of the time, you are exhausted and questioning your next steps. However, guess what. It’s okay as long as you keep moving forward. Two years ago (2017), I received my Master’s Degree in May and promptly broke my leg in August. It was a horrible way to begin a new adventure and time in my life. I was lucky enough to score a fantastic job, and I started working full time for a consulting company. After a few months, I began to question adulting. I saw my friends and coworkers become zombies. They would go to work at the same time every day and then return home to Netflix and a simple meal.

I turned into a so-called Zombie as well, but I KNEW I wanted to do more with my life. I then remembered a promise to myself when I was in college; I had always wanted a mermaid tail. I had gotten a Mahina monofin a few years back, but that’s about it. My good friend that I went to college with, Mermaid Spectra, had mentioned a company by the name of Swimtails. So, I decided to check them out and see what they had to offer. This was WAY before all of their hydra tails and other amazing pro goodies. I saw that they had pro tails for adults on sale. I found a super colorful koi tail and decided that I wanted to become an oversized koi fish.

For the next month, while waiting for my tail to be resized for my body, I would dream of becoming a mermaid every day. I would draw tails in my notebooks at work and create little mermaid stories. I couldn’t WAIT for my tail to come to me. The day it was delivered, I went to the pool with my mom, and I couldn’t stop smiling at the scuba material in the shape of a tail. I slipped it on and slid into the cold pool water. My first kick was when I realized that I was meant to do this. I felt so powerful underwater, and it’s as if I had been turned into a real mermaid. My mom later mentioned that she was impressed with how fast I got the hang of it.

THAT DAY THANKS TO SWIMTAILS I BECAME A MERMAID…
Moreover, ever since that first day the magic did not stop. I was determined to create a fairytale life for myself, and here I am now to help you begin yours. Having beautiful photos on Instagram encouraged me to continue on my magical journey, and I think it might help others feel better about their bodies and overall their lives. Building self-love is tough, and mermaiding has helped me become a more loving person towards myself and others. It all started with a few mermaids edited photos. I believe that you can accomplish the same.

I started this mermaiding to help others feel more confident in their fins.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I believe one of the best things about being a mermaid is the struggles you come across as soon as you put on a tail. You instantly become the center of attention at the pool or the beach, and you know that people are confused. They are trying to figure out the situation and trying to comprehend what I am doing. I’m sure they are also judging my body and quickly creating comparisons between the little mermaid and I. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if you are 200 pounds and wearing a tail or if you are 95 pounds. The mermaid community is exceptionally inclusive and open to anyone who wants to swim in a tail and be healthy! So, if you want to be a mermaid JUST BUY A TAIL AND BE A MERMAID. It’s that easy. (Just make sure you know how to swim pretty well, haha.)

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Mermaid Zari – what should we know?
As a mermaid, I am known for my photography and tail designs. I’ve also been given the title of Miss Mermaid Arizona and the first runner up for Miss Mermaid USA. I have an incredible following on Instagram. I create a lot of fun videos and animations of my mermaid self swimming and living life to the fullest while also advocating for ocean conservation efforts. I get to model a lot of beautiful tails because I am Swimtail’s ambassador which means I get to switch out my fins and showcase them to help others decide which tails they like the most. I honestly feel like the most blessed mermaid in the world because I get to have fun and I can give back to the community. I don’t do events or parties, however, I will join in if it has to do with ocean conservation matters!

Which women have inspired you in your life?
My mom and the other women in my family. I’m inspired by them because they grew up in difficult circumstances and still to this day fight to become better and to support their families to the best of their abilities. They have not had the opportunities that I currently have. However, the only reason why I have all of these opportunities is because of them, because they pushed me to become a better person. Both of my grandmas have given me wonderful advice, my favorite would have to be to: Not get married young but instead to travel and to learn more from the world. I’m doing all of this crazy stuff for them so that they can also live through my adventures. Plus, my mom always critiques the tails I get, she tells me which ones are the best and she’s definitely right 99.9% of the time, haha.

I’m also inspired by women like Sorelle Amore who go out there and share their lives in a raw way. That’s what I want to do. I want to show the world that a mermaid can make a difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: Mermaidzari.com
• Email: mermaidzari@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mermaidzari
• Other: TikTok: @MermaidZari

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.