Her tale is a tragic one: attempting to be something she is not, and losing the man she loves.  In typical Disney fashion, her story is turned into a ‘happily ever after’ story. We know her as the “Little Mermaid,” her tale might be autobiographical for Hans Christian Andersen, who was also unlucky in love.

The Danish writer had this story published in 1837.  In 1909 choreographer Hans Beck, and musician  Fini Henriques, collaborated to put the fairy-tale on stage at the Royal Danish Ballet. One audience member was so impressed, he commissioned a statue to be made; his name was Carl Jacobsen, the inheritor of Carlsberg brewery.

Unveiled in 1913, “The Little Mermaid” sits in Copenhagen harbour in Langelinje;  a tribute to the arts and her native homeland.  She was sculpted  by Edvard Eriksen, who was to use the actual ballerina from “The Little Mermaid,” Ellen Price as his muse. When she learned how public the sculpture would be, she declined his offer, and Eriksen’s wife took her place. At four feet high, the Little Mermaid sits in mid-transformation; not completely a woman, but no longer a fish.

She travels too- she went to the Expo 2010 in Shanghai- lucky girl!