\u201cSo 2020 is already different I think around the world for every human.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe break that we had with the pandemic is teaching the humans so much about the oceans hopefully but we still need to take care of our oceans today not thinking about 2030 about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it clicked with me if I was able to do 10k maybe I am able to do 20k with my mermaid fin and why not do it on 20 August when it is actually Independence Day for Estonia \u2013 20 August is when we got freedom from the Soviet Union so all the numbers were talking to me.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Liivand is based at the Dolphins and Rainbows<\/strong> club in Miami, United States,<\/strong> where she is training for the August record attempt, weighted down in the ocean to mirror the effect of her shoulders getting tired during the event.<\/p>\n

Around her as she trains are dolphins, turtles and sharks and even mother and baby stingrays.<\/p>\n

She is passionate about marine conservation \u2013 in and out of the ocean \u2013 and with her club leads beach clean-ups before heading into the water with a mesh bag on her training swims in which she and her fellow club swimmers deposit trash they find.<\/p>\n

$\"merle-estonia\"$
Photo Courtesy: Merle Liivand<\/p><\/div>\n
Liivand has just celebrated the first anniversary of the inception of a beauty range, called Viking Beauty Secrets<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
All the ingredients are natural \u2013 including Icelandic volcanic ash \u2013 and the packaging is sustainable.<\/p>\n
At home in the water, Liivand is a huge advocate of mermaid swimming, describing it as the fifth stroke.<\/p>\n
She said:<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at Mr Michael Phelps why he is so good is his underwaters and kicking there – the dolphin kick but I call it the mermaid kick.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy whole passion started to educate and advocate for swimming for kids and adults that \u2018hey listen – you still can learn to swim. You don\u2019t have to be Michael Phelps but if you have a passion to become a mermaid and learn the fifth stroke let\u2019s go for it, let\u2019s start learning that\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd from there I realised I am really passionate to be living that mermaid lifestyle where you love to be in the ocean, you love to take care of mother earth, you love to accept everybody \u2013 it doesn\u2019t matter what shape or size \u2013 if you\u2019re a professional swimmer, or you\u2019re a triathlete, or ice swimmer.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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A post shared by Lady Merle Liivand \ud83e\udddc\u200d\u2640\ufe0f EcoMermaid\/WonderWoman (@aquamjerle)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n