Love on the Spectrum star Abbey Romeo celebrated her 28th birthday the Caribbean way — and Us Weekly got an exclusive look inside her surprise party at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

“It was epic. It was awesome,” Romeo, 28, told Us of her poolside surprise at the resort on Saturday, May 16. “Elmo came to surprise me!”

While visiting the island to celebrate the opening of Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks & Caicos, Romeo was treated to a visit by the Sesame Street character, a mermaid and a cake alongside her mom, Christine Romeo, and cousin Mary Romeo.

Of course, Abbey had fun donning a mermaid tail herself and swimming alongside her new “buddy” mermaid, though the Netflix personality told Us the mythical creatures have a deeper significance in her life.

“The number one thing is that I really connected to them as a little girl because mermaids wanted to be on dry land and I wanted to be mainstream,” she explained to Us. “The story of Ariel, I really identified with her as a kid because she felt lonely. She wanted to be part of the human world, and I wanted to be part of a typical school.”

She continued: “When she got to land, she could not talk when she was human. That’s how I used to be.”

Abbey attended an autism school when she was younger, and she told Us she came home one day and proclaimed, “I have no voice, just like Ariel.”

But Abbey has come a long way since then.

“There are many different kinds of autism,” she told Us. “I had 22 years of speech therapy to get where I am today.”

In addition to her poolside birthday party, Abbey got to swim with her mermaid tail in the “beautiful, crystal clear blue water,” meet new friends and even explore the resort’s waterpark — all by herself.

“The first day I got here, I decided to go to the water park all on my own,” she explained to Us. “That felt amazing.”

Not only does Abbey feel confident on her own at the resort, but her mom, Christine, also feels comfortable letting her do her own thing.

Related: How Chad Michael Murray and More Stars Celebrated Beaches’ New Resort

Chad Michael Murray, Kelly Bensimon and more celebs brought their undeniable star power to the Caribbean for the grand opening of Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks & Caicos — and Us Weekly was there to soak in every moment. The action-packed weekend culminated on Saturday, May 16, with the Treasure Beach Village Bash, complete […]

“Abbey feels very safe at the resort, and I feel safe letting her try things,” Christine told Us. “That kind of growth is so substantial. And it’s lovely to be able to come to a place where you know that your loved one is safe, even though they have neurological differences.”

Year 27 was major for Abbey: From singing at the Hollywood Bowl to attending the premiere of the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, to running her hat business and releasing her new single, “Right Here Right Now,” the special moments and milestones were never-ending.

Her ambitions for the year ahead are just as impressive.

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“My goal is to have a pool party and get more mermaid tails for my girlfriends,” she told Us. “[And] go to Italy. Maybe go to Australia to go visit [H2O: Just Add Water mermaids] Cleo, Rikki and Emma. [And] write a new song.”

Following Abbey’s recent decision to just be friends with David Isaacman, whom she met on Love on the Spectrum and dated for over four years, she also hopes to start dating again.

“I do wish there was a merman with me. They’re handsome,” she quipped. “I find them so cute.”