“Brandi Mermaid, The First Real Mermaid of Belize”

“Brandi Mermaid, The First Real Mermaid of Belize”

 THE FIRST “REAL MERMAID” HAS HIT THE SHORES OF SAN PEDRO - AMBERGRIS CAYE.

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
April 2011

Brandi Paige will be debuting this week as the first “real” mermaid entertainer to make a splash in Belize! This is a relatively new form of entertainment that has only recently been gaining popularity around the world. Brandi Paige has had the dream of becoming a mermaid since she was a child and after living in Belize for two years decided this would be the perfect place to make her dream a reality.

Brandi Paige has a realistic mermaid tail costume, exactly like the one in the movie “Splash.” She has been training extensively for 2 years practicing breath hold, yoga, and free diving with a monofin. She has extensive practice with underwater modeling, which is an art form in itself.

What is a mermaid entertainer you ask? The sky and your imagination is the limit!

These are some of the many services Brandi will be offering all over the Caribbean as a mermaid…
- Underwater Photography/Modeling
- Mermaid Nyotaimori catering
- Underwater Marriage Proposals
- Films/Documentaries/ Commercials
- Event Promotions
- Advertising
- Acting
- Singing/Playing guitar (can provide music for events as well)
- Entertainment at Pool Parties/ Hotels/ Resorts
- Adult Parties
- Kids Parties
- Writing Music
- Scenery for snorkeling/scuba trips
- Special Events
- Fundraisers/ Charity Events

Brandi is very excited to begin to use her artistic ability in aiding the community to bring awareness to save our oceans and reefs in Belize. She has plans to release numerous underwater videos of her adventures swimming in Belize’s oceans as well as a picture book.

So, keep an eye out for Brandi the Mermaid around the island and in the sea. She is living proof that dreams can become a reality!

Contact:
Brandi Paige – Mermaid Model/Performer
+501-630-3048
Brandimermaid@yahoo.com

 All photos have been used with permission from Ambergris Today - Belize News and Jose Luis Zapata Photography.

Carnival Fever sweeps Belize

Carnival Fever in Belize

With just days to go before the official start of carnival in Belize on Saturday, September 11th, a festive Carnival Fever is in the air. The annual carnival takes place in Belize and commemorates the Battle of St. George's Caye and the English Baymen settling the land in Belize. Carnival has since evolved into a large-scale celebration of indulgences to include music, food, alcohol and flesh and is most certainly a spectacle of fun, color, music and excitement that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

All the carnival revelers and carnival groups with their dancers in festive Caribbean costumes are perfecting their moves to the beat of rhythmic Caribbean music. For months most groups have been preparing colorful festive costumes and floats and most recently building themselves into a carnival frenzy with mas camps that are performed not only for judging but the get the groups into a pre-carnival celebratory spirit. The carnival and pre-carnival celebrations in Belize normally draws crowds of locals and tourists of all ages and walks of life to the streets to listen to the festive beats and to look at the carnival dancers move their bodies on pure Belizean energy.

History of Carnival Groups in Belize
The birth of the Carnival Groups in Belize came to be when five thoughtful women in 1975 got together on a Sunday afternoon as they normally would. Ms. Crystal, Ms. June, Ms. Alice, Ms. Maude and Ms. Myrtle.
Later knows as the Belize Women for Cultural Preservation, the five mothers from Sixth Street in the King's Park area of Belize City never realized that this particular afternoon would however change the carnival in Belize as their discussions turned to a topic of discussion on how to spice up the Tenth of September Celebrations. After their discussions that afternoon they left with the excitement of an idea that was still turning around in their minds. None of them ever envisioned that the acronym formed from their names, C-JAMM, would one day be a household September word in Belize. They then explained and convinced their children with the idea and they in turn brought neighborhood friends. That September the costumed group danced through the main streets of Belize City. The concept created such an impression that for the next 25 years, the "Sixth Street Masqueraders", as they were dubbed, saw more neighborhoods forming bands, creating costumes and floats to join in the Carnival parade.

On carnival day eager spectators stop and peer down the street, looking for any sign that the carnival parade is about to begin which is usually led by the Police vehicle. As soon as everyone sees the police vehicle the news that its about to come is shared with excitement as it  ripples down the line or spectators. At this time the thought in the back of everyone's mind, are the words: "Let the partying begin!"

Anyone lucky enough to visit Belize at Carnival time can expect to enjoy the greatest party of their life.

Here are a few photos from the Mas Camp Pre-Carnival Festivities: