Student forks out £2.5k to become a MERMAID after becoming obsessed with Disney’s Ariel as a kid

A STUDENT told how she shelled out £2,500 becoming a 'mermaid' - after watching Disney's Ariel aged seven and becoming obsessed.

Environmental studies student Corrine Hinton, 22, from Easton in Pennsylvania, created her very own mermaid costume with a realistic fin which costs thousands of pounds.

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She also spends hundreds of hours in a pool, learning how to swim with a fin.

Corrine, who works as a mermaid for children's parties, told : "I met Ariel when I was younger and that just sparked everything for me.

"As soon as we met and I saw her in real life I knew what I wanted to do.

"It felt like I was meeting a celebrity and from then on I wanted to be just like that person.

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"I suppose it is a double life that I lead and I am proud of it."

She now meets likeminded people where they splash about in lakes and pose for snaps.

Her favourite place to swim is Dutch Springs, near where she lives.

She posts her favourite pictures on her Instagram and Facebook pages - 'themaskedmermaid'.

Describing mermaids as 'incredible', she also poses for charity events and - in her own words - "patrols the sea".