Biography

Rachel Lynn Novak is a stunt performer, freediving and mermaid instructor, professional mermaid, and circus artist from Las Vegas, Nevada. She graduated in 2010 with a B.S. in Biology and then continued on to receive a doctorate in Pharmacy. When she is not in the pharmacy, she works as a fire performer, mermaid performance artist, and freediving and mermaid instructor through her company, Aquanauts Freediving LLC.

Rachel's passion for performing began at the age of 17 when she competed for a local title of the Miss America Pageant. As a self-described athlete, band geek, and wallflower, she was surprised when she won the title of Miss Klamath County 2007. This kick-started her comfort with public speaking and performing live on stage, and she went on to win the titles of Miss City of Sunshine 2010, Miss Linn-Benton 2013, Fire Entertainer of the Year 2016, and Miss Mermaid Nevada 2021-2022.

Rachel's performance arts career ran parallel to her desire to earn her pharmacy degree. While working her way through pharmacy school, she landed multiple artist residencies including Cloud City Circus (Portland, OR), Q Nightclub (Seattle, WA), Aston Manor (Seattle, WA), the Super Geek League (touring), Slinky Bar (Thailand), and Nanda Ninja Acrobaticalists (touring). After graduating with her degree in pharmacy, she began her career in live stunts when she landed a contract with Marvel Universe Live. She later went on to become a cast member and fire performer in Celestia Show in Las Vegas.

Rachel's desire for learning did not end when she graduated pharmacy school. In order to further her skill set, Rachel immersed herself in sailing, skydiving, trail running, rock climbing, mountaineering, freediving, scuba diving, parkour, and martial arts. While she completed her PADI Open Water through PADI rescue diver certifications in the frigid waters of the Puget Sound in Washington, she earned her Divemaster Certification in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. In 2019, Rachel acknowledged her excitement for sharing the underwater world with others and became an SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor and Mermaid Instructor in Panglao, Philippines. She is a regular cast member on The Scuba Radio Show, runs a freediving and travel vlog called The Sailing Siren, and worked as a commentator for the 2021 Vertical Blue Freediving Competition in Dean's Blue Hole, Bahamas.

In 2021, Rachel landed her first role as a stunt performer in Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever.
- IMDb mini biography by: Rachel Novak