With more than 2.5 million followers and 75 million video views, Brandee Anthony ’13 has turned creativity into global influence using performance, storytelling and education to inspire ocean conservation and reconnect people with wonder.
Known worldwide as Vero Beach Mermaid, she has built a career that blends art, entrepreneurship and environmental stewardship. From viral underwater livestreams to hands-on freediving certifications, Brandee connects people to creativity, confidence and the natural world.
When Brandee arrived at UW-Stout, she knew she loved art but wasn’t yet sure how that passion would translate into a career. After exploring several majors, she found her fit in multimedia design, concentrating in 3D modeling and animation — a background that prepared her for a career that wouldn’t sit still. Faculty mentors in photography, video and design helped her refine her skills and confidence.
“Being at UW-Stout gave me room to experiment without feeling boxed in,” she said. “I had the space to explore and figure out what I wanted to do.”
Instead of following the traditional post-graduation path, Brandee stayed in Menomonie for a year after finishing her degree. She honed her business skills, launched her own media company and built early clientele while still connected to the Stout community. From that base, she eventually moved back to Florida and expanded her creative work into photography, social media strategy and digital storytelling.
Brandee’s ability to blend technology, visual art and audience engagement took on a new life with livestreaming. What began as a creative experiment to do a livestream underwater quickly went viral and marked the start of Brandee’s career as a professional mermaid. Brandee soon became known worldwide as Vero Beach Mermaid. Within a short time she amassed more than 2.5 million followers across her social platforms and more than 75 million video views for her ocean-centered content. Audiences connected not only with the spectacle but with the artistry, athleticism and joy behind it. Nearly a decade later, Brandee is known internationally as a professional mermaid, freediver and educator. But the impact of her work goes far beyond performance. Through her platforms, she creates opportunities for others to reconnect with creativity, confidence and the natural world.
That online reach amplified her creative work and opened doors she could never have anticipated. Today she is not just a creator but an educator and advocate. Through her company Mermaid Freedive, Brandee has taught and certified hundreds of people of all ages as mermaids and freedivers, bringing more than 400 participants through mermaid certification and experiences that reconnect people with water, confidence and play.
“Seeing people light up again is my favorite part,” she says. “A lot of my audience is adults. People in their 30s and 40s who are coming back to themselves. Seeing that inner child come out is my favorite part.”
Her creative voice has also become a platform for conservation. Spending countless hours in the water changed the way she thinks about environmental stewardship, and Brandee now weaves education into her content and events. Her annual gatherings include beach cleanups, fundraisers and partnerships with organizations protecting coral reefs, kelp forests and other vital ecosystems. Whether she’s raising funds, sharing tips to protect ocean life or helping others fall in love with the water, Brandee uses every interaction as a chance to inspire care for the environment.
“What people don’t know is the ocean is my office,” she says. That connection drives her to make conservation approachable and actionable, whether through direct environmental education or simply helping someone feel joy and connection with the water.
Beyond the water, Brandee’s creative ventures include media consulting, mentoring and workshops that help others grow their own creative businesses. She has worked with more than 100 brands and continues to share knowledge with aspiring creators online and in person.
Looking back, Brandee credits UW-Stout with shaping the confidence and curiosity that continue to guide her work.
“Stout gave me the space to explore, to fail, to learn and to build,” she says. “It’s a place that helped me become who I am, and I’m proud of that.
