Nadya Vessey

- Resides in Auckland, New Zealand
- Both of Vessey's legs are amputated below the knee
- She was born with a medical condition that prevented her legs from properly developingWeta Workshop: A Mermaid's Tale
- One of her legs was amputated when she was seven years oldWeta Workshop: A Mermaid's Tale
- Her second leg was amputated when she was sixteenWeta Workshop: A Mermaid's Tale
- Swam competitively as a teenWeta Workshop: A Mermaid's Tale
- Tail was custom designed and created by Weta Workshop
- The purchase of the tail was funded in part by a grant from the Kerr-Taylor Foundation TrustWeta Workshop: A Mermaid's Tale

Nadya Vessey, a New Zealand woman in her 50s, had a mermaid tail custom made for her by special effects and design company Weta Workshop. Vessey, who had both her legs amputated in her youth, is an avid swimmer, and uses the fully functioning tail to help her swim.Weta Workshop: A Mermaid's Tale
Inspiration

A few years before receiving the tail, Vessey was at a beach when a young boy approached her as she was removing her prosthetic legs. The boy questioned her about her condition and she explained it by telling him that she was a mermaid. Inspired by the prospect of being a mermaid, Vessey wrote to New Zealand-based special effects and design company Weta Workshops and asked if they would be interested in creating a tail for her. To her surprise, they agreed.Weta Workshop: A Mermaid's Tale CNET: Effects shop fulfills amputee's mermaid dream (February 24, 2009)
Design

Created by Weta Workshop, the special effects company behind The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia film series, the tail was designed to be both functional and attractive. State-of-the art modeling and milling technology was used to ensure a precise fit to Vessey's body. The tail consists of a polycarbonate base covered in neoprene and lycra wetsuit-like material. A Weta artist hand-painted fish-style scales on the outer layer.CNET: Effects shop fulfills amputee's mermaid dream (February 24, 2009) Weta Workshop: A Mermaid's Tale Stuff.co.nz: Mermaid dream comes true thanks to Weta (February 25, 2009)