#GetInTheWater Interview with Amandalyn of Modest Mermaid

We love doing these interviews and couldn’t wait to chat with Amandalyn! She’s an influencer and YouTuber and just runs the cutest platform from her hometown of Huntsville, AL. Don’t forget to check out her Instagram at @modestmermaid!

Lime Ricki: What book do you recommend to everyone?

Amandalyn: I would highly recommend Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson! She is a comedian and this book talks about her depression and anxiety and how she deals with it in a relatable and hilarious way. It’s a great beach summer read that will make you laugh out loud and feel connected and reassured at the same time.

LR: What was your first job? Do you have any funny stories about it?

A: My first job was a two month position at a local Halloween store. I’m a huge lover of Halloween and had a lot of fun with this job! They even let you wear the costumes while on the clock! It was a lot of fun.

LR: Which celebrity would you want as your best friend?

A: I would LOVE to be best friends with Emma Stone. She is so funny and down to earth. I’ve watched her “73 Questions with Vogue” so many times because she just seems so real!

LR: What is your favorite treat?

A: Chocolate. Chocolate anything! Mostly fresh baked cookies. Or salt and vinegar chips!

LR: What three songs do you listen to when you need a boost?

A: All Mine by Kanye, Be Careful by Cardi B, and Caroline by Amine

LR: Who is your female role model and why?

A: Greta Gerwig is my female role model. She’s a writer, director, actor. Best known for starring in Frances Ha! and directing Lady Bird. She’s everything I aspire to be!

LR: When do you feel your most confident and why?

A: I feel most confident when I’m with my boyfriend. He makes me feel the most comfortable and happy. Being with someone you love and loves you properly can change the way you feel about yourself completely!

LR: What does #getinthewater mean to you?

A: #getinthewater means not letting the opinions of others get in the way of living your life! Throw down the towel and jump in! Because life is too short to wait for the approval of those around you!

LR: What advice do you have about feeling comfortable & confident in a swimsuit?

A: I think feeling comfortable and confident in a swim suit starts with loving yourself. Confidence comes from within and spreads wide! Sometimes when I’m worried about being seen in a swim suit I put on my best acting skills and pretend to be the most confident person in the room. Fake it till you make it sort of thing. And it never fails that what starts out as an act always ends up as a real feeling! I start actually feeling confident! It also helps to find a swim suit that you’re comfortable in! It doesn’t have to be the sexiest tiniest bikini – if you feel comfortable you won’t be worrying about how you look!

LR: How do you share body positivity and/or self love?

A: I share body positivity by never editing my body in pictures I post online! I think the major photoshop/face tune body lifts people are giving themselves are so harmful to young women and men’s perspective of the human form. Why not embrace our imperfections and spread love by starting with ourselves and what we post online?

LR: Have you struggled with loving your body?

A: Absolutely! Who hasn’t? Although I have been very thin my entire life I have struggled with loving my body. Especially with rude comments from other people about how I need to get in the gym and put on muscle or I need to eat more or implying I starve myself by showing concern when I don’t finish a meal. It has definitely made me nervous about people seeing how skinny I am or scared to eat out with people in fear they will judge the amount of food I may eat. I feel that skinny shaming is just as harmful and prevalent as fat shaming, people just don’t think it’s a real problem because of the harmful beauty industry. But skinny does not equal beauty. I had to learn that beauty is measured by how much kindness and love and respect you give. Not by what size or shape you are. And when you learn to love yourself on the inside you will find that loving the outside is easy!

Lime Ricki: What book do you recommend to everyone?

Make sure you follow Amandalyn on her Instagram @modestmermaid and check out her YouTube channel as well!