It may have been chilly Saturday, but that didn't stop mermaid hopefuls from getting in the water and seeing if they have what it takes to be a Weeki Wachee Mermaid.
- Dozens audition to become Weeki Wachee mermaid
- First round consisted of a swim test
- About 40 will move on to the next round
"It's just a dream come true if I get it," Michelle Colson said.
For many of the mermaid hopefuls, working at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is something they've wanted for a long time.
"I started learning how to swim with a mono-fin and I realized it was something that I was meant to do," Amanda Vousden said. "Whether it was my job or just as a hobby it's definitely something I'm meant to do."
More than 50 people showed up for the first part of the audition. Over 250 signed up, but workers say the cold likely kept more people away.
Step one of the audition process is a swim test. Auditioners were timed while they swam 300 yards and treaded water.
Before long, some call it quits, running out of energy while battling the strong current in the springs as well as the other swimmers in the water.
"I wasted all my energy trying to get past them, I had almost nothing left," Stephanie Rix said.
Current mermaids say they do lose a good amount of people after this round, but it's important any mermaid have the athleticism needed to perform.
"It will knock out the people who think ‘Oh it's just posing’ but then they find out there's a lot more to it," mermaid manager Amanda Luter said. "It's a lot of athleticism. It's a lot of dealing with the cold and different risk factors and feeling comfortable and still putting on a performance and doing the role as best as they can."
In the end, just about 40 people made the cut, all hopeful they'll get one of the eight available positions.
Following this round, there is an interview portion and then an underwater audition.