The Little Mermaid of Maine: Meet the woman behind the tail at Wells Beach

WELLS, Maine — In the 1984 comedy “Splash,” Tom Hanks roamed the beaches of Cape Cod in search of a mermaid. If the movie was remade today, all Hanks would have to do is head straight to Wells Beach to find what he was looking for.

All summer, beachgoers have seen a mermaid named Lavinia sunning herself on the jetty at Wells Beach or frolicking in the waves.

Mermaid Lavinia swims in the Atlantic Ocean at Wells Beach after sunning herself on the jetty Aug. 23, 2023.
Mermaid Lavinia swims in the Atlantic Ocean at Wells Beach after sunning herself on the jetty Aug. 23, 2023.

For those who have wanted to meet her, there has been no need to cast a line and reel her in — she has been happy to approach or be approached by people wanting to chat with her about her life in the sea or snap photos for their vacation albums.

On land, with legs and without a tail, Lavinia is known as Julie Pichette, of Sanford.

Pichette, a healthcare worker who is married with two sons, said she is a lifelong fan of “The Little Mermaid.” In this case, we’re talking about the 1989 Disney animated feature, although Pichette saw the live-action remake released this summer and enjoyed that one just fine, too.

Mermaid Lavinia lies on the jetty rocks while a reporter interviews her at Wells Beach Aug. 23, 2023.
Mermaid Lavinia lies on the jetty rocks while a reporter interviews her at Wells Beach Aug. 23, 2023.

During a recent interview, Pichette transformed into Lavinia, laying belly-down and tail-up on the large rocks of the Wells Beach jetty. She explained that she had always wanted to be a mermaid and had often dressed as one for Halloween when she was a girl growing up in the 1990s.

This year, Pichette decided not to wait until Halloween. In May, she slipped her legs into a mono-fin she had purchased, put on a matching top, placed a tiara atop her head, and took the plunge.

Literally. Even though the Atlantic Ocean had yet to warm up for those summer tourists, she leaped into the water for Lavinia’s first-ever swim.

“The water was very cold,” Pichette said. “It was about 50 degrees … I keep a close eye on the ocean temperature, for sure.”

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Under the sea at Wells Beach

Ever since that day in May, Pichette has decided to “keep swimming, keep swimming,” to quote another Disney fish — in this case, Dory, from “Finding Nemo.” On some hot afternoons at Wells Beach, Lavinia often can be found among the waves for as long as three or four hours.

“I just swim,” she said. “It’s a great workout, really.”

Mermaid Lavinia swims in the Atlantic Ocean at Wells Beach after sunning herself on the jetty Aug. 23, 2023.
Mermaid Lavinia swims in the Atlantic Ocean at Wells Beach after sunning herself on the jetty Aug. 23, 2023.

No lessons for swimming like a mermaid were needed, according to Pichette. She said she has been swimming like a mermaid her whole life.

“I just keep my legs together and swim that way,” she said. “I’m used to it.”

That said, the tail helps.

“It helps propel you under the way a lot faster, for sure,” Pichette said.

At one point during her interview, Pichette waded into the ocean. Once transformed into Lavinia, she ducked underwater and, standing on her hands, waved to people on shore by flapping her tail in the air.

Life as a mermaid has been incident-free so far, Pichette said, although Lavinia does sport a scar on her wrist from when she brushed against a rock with barnacles while swimming. Pichette said Lavinia likes to give swimmers, especially surfers, their space when she is in the water.

The lifeguards at Wells Beach have been supportive, Pichette said.

“Luckily, they haven’t had to save me,” she added.

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She wants be part of your world

Pichette grew up in Vermont, lived briefly in western Massachusetts, and moved to Sanford with her family in 2020.

She had visited Maine often throughout her life and had wanted to make it her home. The miles of beaches may have had something to do with that.

Mermaid Lavinia lies on the jetty rocks on the jetty at Wells Beach Aug. 23,2023.
Mermaid Lavinia lies on the jetty rocks on the jetty at Wells Beach Aug. 23,2023.

“I have loved it from the start,” she said.

And now, beachgoers love her. Especially children.

“Oh, my gosh, they get so excited,” Pichette said. “It’s just something so magical.”

So magical that Pichette said she cannot quite capture why mermaids appeal to her.

“Half fish and half human — you don’t understand why that’s such a beautiful mix, but it is,” she said. “They’re just mythical creatures.”

Like Clark Kent slipping into a phone booth to turn into Superman, Pichette makes sure she switches from legs to fins in private, to keep the mystery of mermaids alive for children. On the day of her interview, the crowds were sparse enough that she could don Lavinia’s tail while sitting on the jetty. Other times, though, Pichette goes into the water to transform into her alter ego.

Mermaid Lavinia lies on the jetty rocks while a reporter interviews her at Wells Beach Aug. 23, 2023.
Mermaid Lavinia lies on the jetty rocks while a reporter interviews her at Wells Beach Aug. 23, 2023.

Lavinia is named after the fairy in Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus,” which Pichette read in college.

“I just fell in love with this character,” she said. “Her name just kind of stuck with me … It just works.”

Lavinia is not the only mermaid out there, by the way. According to The Guardian, hundreds gathered for the annual California Mermaid Convention in May.

“Around a community pool near Sacramento, flippers were being unpacked, glowing bubble crowns secured to wigs, and glittery eye makeup donned,” wrote journalist Kari Paul.

Paul described “mermaiding” as a blend of cosplay and athletics, enjoyed in pools and oceans. Wrote Paul, “Merfolk come from all over the world.”

Mermaid Lavinia goes under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean at Wells Beach after sunning herself on the jetty Aug. 23, 2023.
Mermaid Lavinia goes under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean at Wells Beach after sunning herself on the jetty Aug. 23, 2023.

Including from Wells, Maine.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” Pichette said. “And I love the joy that it brings to people.”

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: The Little Mermaid of Maine is making a splash at Wells Beach