Izabella Meyer Built Mermaid Protector® from Scratch. Now It’s a Global Symbol of Female Power

Most people believe that success has an expiration date. That if you haven’t “made it” by 40, your time has passed. Izabella Meyer never believed that. And when life handed her heartbreak in her late 50s, she didn’t retreat — she reinvented.

Today, Izabella Meyer is the founder and CEO of Mermaid Protector®, a groundbreaking water sports fashion company disrupting a billion-dollar industry. She’s not just building wetsuits — she’s building a movement. A movement led by a woman who refused to let age, gender, or convention define her limits.

“At 60, I didn’t want to start over,” she says, “but I had no choice. My marriage was over, and I was staring at a blank page. I had two options: disappear quietly, or finally live for myself.”

She chose the latter.

The Making of a Maverick

Izabella Meyer was never ordinary. Raised in the wild, lake-dotted forests of Masuria, Poland, she grew up climbing trees, paddling through icy waters, and sleeping under stars. Nature was her classroom — resilience her daily lesson.

From stuntwoman to fitness trainer to digital artist, Izabella’s career has spanned decades and disciplines. But it wasn’t until after her divorce that she truly found her voice — and her mission.

“I had always supported others — as a wife, a mother, a colleague,” she reflects. “But I hadn’t fully supported me. That moment, painful as it was, gave me the fire to change that.”

While others were winding down careers, Izabella was gearing up to launch the business of a lifetime. With no investors, no roadmap and no connections to the industry, but with unexpected support from her ex-husband Thomas, she founded Mermaid Protector® — an eco-luxury wetsuit brand committed to eliminating neoprene from water sports.

Neoprene wetsuits? “they were awful,” she laughs. “Heavy, smelly, hard to put on — and worst of all, harmful to the environment. I thought, if I feel this way, surely other women do too.”

She was right. What began as a deeply personal mission to create an alternative soon caught fire with ocean lovers, divers, surfers, and climate-conscious consumers worldwide.

Breaking the Mold, One Suit at a Time

Mermaid Protector® wetsuits are made from high-performance fabric created using recycled PET bottles — not neoprene. They’re breathable, fast-drying, feather-light, hypoallergenic, and printed with vibrant ocean-inspired patterns. But beyond function and form, Izabella built something deeper: a brand that reflects identity, purpose, and beauty without compromise.

Her motto? “There’s a mermaid hiding in every woman.”

And this wasn’t just a branding line — it was a battle cry. Izabella wasn’t just selling products. She was selling permission: permission to be bold, different, and powerful at any age.

Entrepreneurship at 60 — and Thriving

Izabella`s rise wasn’t easy. She faced rejection, mockery, and the constant whisper that she was “too late.” But what others saw as weakness — age, femininity, emotion — she turned into her greatest strength.

“I know what failure feels like. I know what loss feels like. That’s exactly why I wasn’t afraid to risk it all,” she says. “Fear has no power when you’ve already rebuilt yourself from the ground up.”

When asked what makes a truly successful entrepreneur, she doesn’t hesitate:

1. Know Your Why:
   “Don’t chase trends. Solve a problem that keeps you up at night. Mermaid Protector® was born out of frustration with neoprene, yes — but also love for the ocean. The mission was always bigger than the product.”
   
   
2. Be Obsessed With Your Customer:
   “I design for women like me. Women who want comfort, performance, and beauty — and who care deeply about the planet. If your product doesn’t serve someone’s soul, it won’t last.”
   
   
3. Play the Long Game:
   “It took me a year just to create my first patterns. There were no shortcuts. If you want real innovation, you need time, patience, and relentless testing.”
   
   
4. Lead with Values, Not Just Vision:
   “No plastic packaging. Vegan materials. Fair production. It’s hard. It’s expensive. But shortcuts kill credibility. And credibility is everything.”
   
   
5. Surround Yourself with Believers:
   “You don’t need a huge team. You need the right people. My marketing partner, Kati, believed in me when no one else did. Loyalty like that is priceless.”

A Global Brand with a Granddaughter’s Heart

Despite the international attention, Izabella still lives in a quiet Swiss village. Her company is based in Europe, her packaging is biodegradable, and her designs are inspired by the ocean that first called to her in the Maldives.

But her proudest title isn’t founder — it’s grandmother.

“Becoming a grandmother changed everything,” she says. “It reminded me that every decision we make is a message to the next generation. My suits may not save the planet alone — but they are a message. That we can do better. That we must do better.”

The Woman Who Refused to Quit

Izabella Meyer didn’t set out to be a symbol. But in a world obsessed with youth and speed, her journey has become a rallying cry for late bloomers and changemakers alike.

At 60, she created something new, running a global company. And she’s just getting started.

“Success isn’t about timing,” she says. “It’s about alignment — aligning your story, your values, and your courage. If you have those, you don’t need anyone’s permission.”

So to the women watching from the sidelines, wondering if it’s too late to start their dream?

Izabella Meyer answers with a smile:
“It’s not too late. You’re right on time.”