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Britney Spears was the It Girl of the 90s, releasing dozens of top songs like Baby One More Time, Toxic, and Oops I Did It Again. Britney was America’s sweetheart, playing into expectations to be both innocent and sexy. She was constantly bombarded by media and everything she did was made so public, which is why her 2007 “meltdown” was such a shock to fans.
In February of 2007, following a divorce that led to temporary loss of custody over her two sons, Britney fled rehab and shaved her head completely bald. She had quite literally gone to the hairdresser, asked to be bald, and when the hairdresser tried to talk her out of it, Spears took the razor and did it herself. When asked why she did this to her hair, Spears responded that she was sick of people touching her hair (The Sun). Looking back, this is a clear red flag at Britney needed to regain control of her life after she felt taken advantage of by the media. Nobody seemed to care about her mental wellbeing, and had felt that her downfall was bound to happen at some point. Just days later, the “umbrella incident” occurred in which paparazzi surrounded her vehicle and Spears got out, umbrella in hand, smashing a photographer’s window. Many people look back on this incident and can clearly see that this was a cry for help, but at this time, Spears was labeled as crazy. She was used as a punchline incessantly in the media and mocked for her actions, as if they were funny.
About a year after this, Spears was placed into her conservatorship by her father over her mental health struggles and possible substance abuse. This conservatorship, lasting for over a decade, allowed for Spears’ family members, not her, to be in charge of all of her business and personal decisions. She did not have access to any of her finances for her to spend in the way she wished and decisions about her personal life, such as when she could get remarried or visit her sons, was controlled. Spears has described this conservatorship as abusive, and “she lived in terror and shame, unable to make decisions about her work or her own body” (New York Times). Her whole life and her freedom of speech was taken away from her and she was forced to put up a facade that she was just fine. Despite being a fully grown adult, Spears was forced to take medication she did not want to take and go on tour. She had wanted to get married and have another baby, but was forced to stay on her birth control and, again, all of her relationships were monitored. On top of this, Jamie Spears was being paid around $16,000 a month to be his daughter’s conservator, according to BBC.
In 2019/2020, when Jamie Spears could no longer be in charge of Britney Spears, Britney indicated that she no longer wanted to be under this legal control. This combined with off-putting videos on social media sparked a massive civic movement- #FreeBritney. Free Britney was a huge public outcry that brought to light the kind of treatment Spears was getting under her conservatorship for the first time. Many people, including myself, had no idea of these issues until this point in time. In February of 2021, New York Times released a documentary called “Framing Britney Spears”, outlining the kind of treatment Spears had been getting for years by the media, sparking even more interest in her conservatorship. People began protesting outside of courthouses and posting all sorts of media about #FreeBritney. Celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton, and Cher all supported this movement, among many other notable people. Spears was finally able to go to court, pick her own counsel, and have her voice heard after pleading for years to end her conservatorship. She spoke out about the years of emotional abuse she faced and in November 2021, Britney was finally free.
Now, she has gotten married again like she wished, and she is attempting to charge her father with financial misconduct and conservator abuse. She is getting justice. Her case has brought so much attention to the treatment of women in the media, particularly those who went through public “downfalls”, such as Amanda Bynes, Lindsay Lohan, and Miley Cyrus. The public is much less quick to judge these women and reach out a sympathetic hand to them, offering help they need instead of labeling them as crazy. They are no longer being treated like punchlines to the public instead of real people in crisis. Britney herself is being given support by fans globally that she did not have before after being bullied in her own home. And most of all, people are begging society to let Spears live her life and express herself- free from mass media scrutiny- after being suppressed for so long.
Spears has also released a memoir in 2023 called The Woman In Me, which is monumental for speaking about women’s mental health. In her memoir, she details the mental health struggles that she has been facing for years, including her struggle with postpartum depression, her very public breakup with Justin Timberlake, and, of course, her conservatorship. Spears is able to regain her voice and control of her narrative and is able to speak on her life from her perspective. Her memoir is raw and real, she does not claim to be all better or somehow have all the answers, admitting to a need for continuous growth. But mostly, this memoir speaks to so many people. To other child stars, who faced the pressure of the world from a young age, to people struggling with mental health, who need to know that they are not alone, and to women, who are still so misunderstood. Through her book, Spears “”It underscores the urgent need for a cultural shift towards openness, understanding and empathy around women’s mental health” (Yahoo).
Women have historically been denied mental health help, instead labeled as crazy or overly emotional. Centuries ago, if a woman had a mental health disorder she would simply be diagnosed with hysteria or would be lobotomized. Women in crisis are often asked if it’s “their time of the month” instead of a legitimate understanding for their struggles. Men attempt to speak over women and do not allow them to share their own stories, something that is all too familiar to Britney Spears in a literal sense. Spears overcoming that on a grand scale while simultaneously speaking about her experiences that impact women specifically, such as her postpartum depression, miscarriage, and abortion, is so essential.
Through her life experiences, Britney has taken what she has learned women in her and has spread it to women everywhere. With these new conversations about mental health sparked by this #FreeBritney and her memoir, it is hopeful that one day all of our voices will be heard.
Paparazzo Auctioning Off Umbrella From Infamous Britney Spears Attack (vice.com)
Why Britney Spears Shaved Off Her Hair—Looking Back 15 Years Later (newsweek.com)
Britney Spears reveals devastating reason she shaved her head during 2007 public meltdown | The Sun
Britney Spears Timeline, From the Conservatorship to Her Memoir – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Britney Spears: Singer’s conservatorship case explained (bbc.com)
Britney Spears’ New Memoir Changes The Conversation On Mental Health (forbes.com)
Britney Spears’ memoir is a rallying cry for women’s mental health, says Canadian therapist (yahoo.com)
Britney Spears – Wikipedia
Lemonade Mouth, a cult classic, follows the stories of five different characters, each with their own family struggles, who end up in detention together one day and start a band. This includes Olivia, a shy singer who lives with her grandmother after her father’s incarceration, Wen, a piano player who’s dad is dating a woman much younger than him, Charlie, the drummer who feels overshadowed by his older brother, Stella, the guitar player who feels like her parents do not understand her, and Mo, the bassist who feels pressure to be the perfect Indian daughter while also wanting to fit in at school.
First of all, this movie has some absolute bangers. She’s So Gone is one of the best songs that Disney Channel has ever made, and the part where her ex boyfriend sees her flirt with another guy during the song and is visibly jealous?? Eight year old me was GAGGED. This song and movie in general was such a cultural reset. Determinate?? More Than a Band? Somebody? Like these songs are not just good for a Disney movie. These songs are just good. They are still good and they are iconic.
All that being said, this movie honestly is very inclusive in showing a wide variety of family relationships. Many people associate Disney with picture-perfect nuclear families and this movie really challenges that. It shows single parents, mixed race families, divorced parents, immigrant parents, and living with a grandmother instead of a parent. It is not very often that a movie meant for younger kids deals with things like incarceration, but this movie literally ends with Olivia revealing that her narration throughout the movie was a letter to her dad who is in jail. This is groundbreaking for a kids movie and can help children who have gone through this same thing not feel so invisible. This can be said for all of the families in this movie. Mo’s family is another one that sticks out for this reason for me because it was one of the first times that I, as a kid, got a glimpse into what a non-white household might look like and the struggles with identity that one might face. Mo felt a constant internal struggle to satisfy both halves of her identity, as both a proud Indian daughter and American teenager, which is definitely relatable to millions of people. This could be the first time that a little kid sees their family portrayed or their struggles represented on screen, and representation is so important.
This movie does not have a clear reason for being made. I think the idea of people with different backgrounds all coming together for a collective passion was very popular at the time, as it has been for a while with classics like Grease, The Breakfast Club, and of course, High School Musical (LOL).
Some other random thoughts about this movie because I absolutely adore it and I feel like it is so beloved but also forgotten at the same time: I specifically remember thinking the lemonade in this movie looked so good and everyone knows Naomi Scott from playing Jasmine in live action Aladdin but she is forever my Mo. And lastly, I do really like how Mo’s loser boyfriend turns nice at the end and joins the band because everyone deserves their redemption arc.
Mental health is something that used to be so stigmatized in society, but several celebrities have defied this stigma and spoken out about their struggles with mental health on a large stage. One of the most recent examples of this is Simone Biles at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
For those who are not familiar with the situation, on July 27, Day 4 of the Olympic games, Simone Biles had a shaky vault performance, which is uncharacteristic of the greatest gymnast of all time. She had apparently planned to do a 2.5 twist vault dismount, but only completed 1.5 with a shaky landing. After exiting with a team doctor, she returned with a wrapped right leg and it was announced that she was withdrawing from the competition due to a medical issue. It was later revealed that it was not injury-related, but a mental struggle- what gymnasts call the twisties. The twisties are essentially when gymnasts get lost in the air while performing and are not aware where they are in space. Space and air awareness are very important for gymnastics and many gymnasts like Biles have exceptional bodily awareness. To get the twisties can be dangerous because gymnasts will not know where or when to land and can land wrong, even on their head, which can cause injuries anywhere from a twisted ankle to paralysis.
Biles’ withdrawal was a huge shock to the nation that was excited to see her perform but resparked an important conversation about mental health. Biles is not the first athlete to speak out about mental health or even the first athlete to drop out of a competition due to it, but this event happened amidst the pandemic where mental health was already a global conversation. According to Time Magazine, “About 30% of people aged 18 to 25 years report having a diagnosis of a mental illness in the preceding year, which means this age group already represents a higher risk group.” These are the same ages as the Olympians and many young adults who consume the Olympic media. This number was heightened by Covid and the stress that came with online school, job layoffs, high market prices, and diminished social lives. Having someone so public facing such high expectations choose her mental health really emphasized these conversations, particularly among this age group where it is especially important.
The Tokyo Olympics in particular had a giant focus on mental health before Biles pulled out. Time Magazine introduces Jessica Bartley, a psychologist and the director of mental health services for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, who attested that “her team received about 10 requests daily during the Games to support athletes’ mental health needs.” These athletes are under so much pressure to perform perfectly in order to represent their country well. They have worked tireless hours, but many of the struggles they face are hidden from the public in order to maintain this image of effortless talent. With Biles’ courageous decision, mental health became a “defining theme of the Games. And her courageous choice, amplified by the global spotlight of the Games, created a rare opportunity for moving the discussion from raising awareness to positive action” (Time). Not only did Biles change the game for other athletes in the Games to recognize that their struggles were valid, she validated the feelings of millions of people across the globe.
She was able to put her pride aside and do what was best for her health and safety, which is much easier said than done. She proved that her mental health was her top priority, even above a global competition that she worked tirelessly for. This was definitely not an easy decision for her, but it was the only decision. Her courage challenged the thoughts of even the average American. I mean if Simone Biles can put her mental health above the Olympic Games, why shouldn’t I be putting my mental health above one silly little assignment? If her mental health is that important to her, why shouldn’t my mental health be that important to me?
Biles added a whole new layer of depth to the games. She showed that these athletes are human. They feel this immense pressure to be the best but at the end of the day they are human like the rest of us, and are often times in their teens or early 20s. As someone on the older end of the spectrum and as one of the most well known names in the Games, Biles was a sort of role model to other athletes and her decision had a real weight in showing that mental health needs to be talked about in order for these struggles to be overcome.
Biles has been an advocate for therapy and mental health in the past, but this event was such a large decision that it brought more attention to it. Biles is also notably a survivor of the Larry Nassar sex abuse scandal, which also illuminates how many athletes struggle from various types of mental illness.
Many athletes spoke out in support of Biles’ decision, which brought more media attention to it. Other big names who have advocated for their mental health in the past, including Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, and Aly Raisman have attested to the struggles they have faced as professional athletes and the attention that must be dedicated to the mental health of athletes and individuals as a whole. President Joe Biden even applauded Simone Biles’ decision, showing the impact of her bravery on even the world’s biggest leaders.
Mental health and Simone Biles’ decision was important to the civic because of the effect it has and is continuing to have today, despite being 2.5 years ago. With her choice, “Simone Biles touched a nerve far beyond athletes, releasing a seemingly pent-up reservoir in the broader culture…Google searches related to mental health on the day Biles pulled out hit their highest peak in two months” (Time). She made the Olympics about so much more than just sports. She opened up a whole new world for athletes and viewers to weigh the importance of their health in their own lives, to seek the betterment of their mentality. This was not just a shocking, fleeting moment; it was a cultural reset that has left a lasting change.
We commend you, Simone Biles.
Sources:
The Tokyo Olympics Changed the Conversation About Mental Health | TIME
Simone Biles Mental Health Message is Game-Changing | Turnbridge
What Happened to Simone Biles? Why Did The Gymnast Pull Out of The Olympics? (newsweek.com)
Princess Protection Program, starring Selena Gomez as small-town girl, Carter, who’s dad rescues endangered princesses for a living. His job is to put them in a Princess Protection Program where they will be relocated to somewhere safe. However, he saves Demi Lovato’s character, Princess Rosalinda, from Costa Luna which is being overrun by foreign terrorists attempting a coup d’états. While her mom is held hostage in Costa Luna, Rosie is relocated to stay with Carter and her dad where they become close friends despite their different backgrounds.
This movie, as you can probably tell from the brief summary, touches on some pretty deep topics. Rosie is away from home concerned about the safety of her mother and country. These storylines were essential to teaching kids from a young age about foreign conflict and real-world issues like terrorism and foreign violence. The idea of Rosie getting plucked from her home and family with absolutely no warning resembles the experiences of many immigrant children or children experiencing war in foreign countries. Though it’s unknown whether this was the intention of the movie, it is heartbreaking to see her facing displacement alone. Though many kids cannot relate, they can sympathize with Rosie and later sympathize with people with similar stories. Within these storylines aligns a lesson of trust, as Rosie is plucked from her home and does not know who she can trust with her secret of being in protection. When the time comes that she needs help, she can rely on Carter’s father and her dressmaker back in Costa Luna to ensure that she and her mother are safe. Showing young kids the importance of having trust in the adults in their life is an essential message.
When the girls first meet, Carter is quick to label Rosie as a spoiled princess without knowing what she is truly going through. She resents that Rosie is stealing her dad’s attention as well as the attention of her crush (who is actually just a jerk). Seeing how these two girls look beyond their differences and see how their values align is important for watchers to see. This message goes deeper than two girls just becoming friends. In a place where Rosie knows and trusts basically nobody, she and Carter find that their values for kindness, trust, and love for their parents align. In the end, Carter ends up risking her life by playing bait for terrorist leader General Kane to capture her instead of Rosie. This kind of sacrifice goes beyond the standard idea of friendship that is typically displayed in movies, especially ones aimed for children.
Aside from the deeper meaning, this movie is just a really good watch. Selena and Demi have great chemistry, and watching Rosie try to live a civilian life and massively failing at mundane things like eating a cheeseburger is very funny. And, of course, the happy ending where Rosie is reunited with her mother and becomes the Queen of Costa Luna is exciting (despite being somewhat predictable) after a lot of tension. All in all, an excellent movie and definitely an underrated flic.
Passion Blog: For my passion blog I decided to write about my favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. These movies are a staple in many peoples’ childhoods ad I would like to do a deeper dive on the context of their creation and the cultural impact they had on people. I would like to look at why some DCOMs became incredibly popular franchises while others are more underrated or forgotten about. I would also like to look at the messages of these movies and how they have aged over time with many of my favorites being released 10-20 years ago.
Civic Blog: I am going to be doing my civic blog on how mental health has become more relevant in the public sphere as stigma is becoming reduced. As a college student where mental health advocacy is everywhere and as someone who struggles with mental illness myself, it is very interesting to me how something that was once so stigmatized has become openly discussed. I want to look at different celebrities that have spoken openly about mental health, as well as different political movements and laws that have changed how mental health is perceived from a legal standpoint.
This I Believe Speech Outline:
Introduction
Attention grabber
- How many of you were “gifted” kids in elementary school?
Context
- In many American elementary schools, kids within a classroom are categorized as gifted or non gifted and are taught as such, being very obviously given different material to where it was clear who was “smart” vs “dumb”
Ethos
- I was always put into the “smart” group and given the harder math packets or more advanced spelling words, so I’ve seen firsthand the kind of impacts it has on people like me and those who were not
Thesis
- I believe that young kids should not be categorized as “gifted” or “not gifted”
- The “gifted” kids often end up facing gifted kid burnout while the “not gifted” kids feel diminished and discouraged to even try hard since they’ve already been put in a box from a young age
Preview of main point
- Despite it seeming helpful to let kids move at their own pace, we are going to look at how this categorization is harmful for both sides.
Body
Categories
- Harmful for “gifted kids”
- High ego- Being labeled as “smart” from a young age creates an unhealthy but inherent sense of superiority over other peers which is harmful for social interactions
- Burnout- Many “gifted” kids eventually face gifted kid burnout where they feel extreme pressure to live up to their labeled potential. If they do not continue to outperform their peers or reach certain standards it can be incredibly harmful for their self esteem and cause a sort of identity crisis. Natural talent only takes you so far
- Change- They struggle with asking for help or asking questions because they feel as though they’re supposed to know how to do everything; struggle to challenge themselves or try new things because they want to be good at everything
- Ridicule- At the same time, they also may face ridicule and slander from classmates who label them as “teachers pets” and make fun of them for being a perfectionist when its not their fault that’s how they were conditioned.
- “who often feel they’ve gained a special status for being smart. It’s not uncommon for gifted students to fear failure more than other students because they feel they have more to lose” Students Share The Downside Of Being Labeled ‘Gifted’ | KQED
- Harmful for “non-gifted” kids
- Internalized- They begin to internalize the idea that they are not gifted and feel no need to even try; like they will never be the best so why even try
- Resentment- Feel resentment toward “gifted” kids or jealousy, feel embarrassed to ask questions for fear of “proving” their label
- Unrepresentative- Test scores are not all that matters and can be entirely unrepresentative: “Lower scores can reflect test anxiety, a misunderstanding of test requirements, health on test day, motivation to succeed on the test, the nature of the test itself, or something else entirely that has nothing to do with how competent a particular child might be.” One Child Gifted, Another One Not | Psychology Today
- To reduce someone to solely whether they’re good at math or not ignores who they are as a person or the complexities of who they are, maybe they face adversity. If they are taught from a young age that all that matters is being good at school and they aren’t, they face an extreme lack of motivation and low self esteem, like they are worthless
- Separation- “The “ungifted” child may feel they’re not very bright, which can damage their self-confidence and willingness to take academic risks. The children may drift apart, with disdain, insecurity, resentment, or guilt interfering with a previously warm relationship.” One Child Gifted, Another One Not | Psychology Today
- General notes
- My anecdotes
- When I had an internal crisis because one week I got “demoted” to an easier spelling list- it was so obvious which list was easy vs medium vs hard and which kids got the hard vs easy words
- When a classmate and I weren’t put into the same math class as the other “smart kids” and complained even though it was purely coincidental
- When a teacher put me on the spot to answer a question and I didn’t know the answer and she was surprised/disappointed and called on someone else instead and I felt so embarrassed
- I lowkey felt like I was better than everyone because I was in an accelerated math program in school where we’d leave class to work on advanced problems with the other “gifted” kids, but I simultaneously felt like the dumbest one there
Conclusion
Signal closure
- So what actually are the solutions for this? Where is the balance between some kids struggling with a faster pace and others getting bored at a slower pace?
Summarize main ideas
- Needs to be emphasized from a young age that school and grades are not all that matters. Yes, things like AP vs CP classes make sense for older students or even taking different math levels in middle school. But not elementary
- It is harmful to have labels from such a young age in both directions, and these labels cause many more problems in the short and long run than they help solve.
Thesis
- I believe that young kids should not be labeled and treated as “gifted” or “not gifted”
End memorable
- A quote from Albert Einstein: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.”
Welcome to Semester 2 of Rachel’s Reflections!
For my This I Believe Speech, I have a couple of ideas that I think are interesting and align with my values.
- Pro-choice: Being pro-choice is a big part of my identity and something that I am very open and passionate about. I think that I could create something very special with my belief that women should have reproductive rights regarding their bodies. This belief is something that I have always thought, but did not have much knowledge on until high school when I began learning about cases like Roe v Wade and the denial of healthcare that many women endure. With the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022 and a growing controversy surrounding this topic, I have done extensive research on pro-choice arguments and believe I can contribute well to educate my peers.
- Gifted children: As many know, the idea that kids are labelled as “gifted” or “non gifted” from a young age is common in American elementary schools. However, I believe this is harmful from both angles. Gifted kids often face burnout at a young age or have an identity crisis if they are not successful in every aspect of their lives, feeling like a failure. The “non gifted” kids are labeled as the “dumb” kids and often face low self esteem or are proven to have lesser goals because they people who should be believing in them automatically diminish their potential from the start. This is something that people don’t talk about enough but that I think is very important for children’s mental health as someone who works with kids.
Next, I have some ideas for my passion blog.
- DCOMs: A ranking of my top favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. These movies molded my childhood and many others, and often contain important messages like how love and friendship defies social standards or how anything is possible if you work hard and believe in yourself. I think this could resonate with people in a fun way that I’m passionate about.
- Movies that pass the Bechdel test: With the Barbie movie coming out this year, the Bechdel test, or the test to see how many times female characters in media have a conversation about something besides men, has become increasingly relevant. There are many movies and shows that do not pass the test, which shows young girls that the only important topics are men, or expresses the idea that women have no interests besides men. This just is not true and is harmful to believe in today’s progressive society. I would love to bring attention to movies that do pass this test.
Lastly, for my civic blog.
- Reproductive rights: Again, reproductive rights are something that are definitely relevant in the civic right now because of recent court cases and protests for women. Within this blog I could either do defining court cases for women’s reproductive rights or influential women throughout the fight for proper access to these rights.
- Mental Health: Mental health is something that has become increasingly relevant in the public sphere, as stigma has been reduced and more people feel comfortable speaking out about their struggles. As someone who struggles with mental health, it has been very reassuring to see some of my favorite celebrities and influencers speak out about their experiences. I would love to do a blog about some of these celebrities and how their stories are changing peoples’ perspectives of mental health in a positive way.
I liked my TED Talk performance. I think it was very evident that I was well prepared, and spoke entirely from memory from how much I had practiced. My slides had minimal words and enhanced my performance. I think my presentation was engaging and interesting, contributing new and detailed information. My largest fault was time– I went way over the limit because I got very passionate about my topic and probably included more information that I should have. In looking back, there were definitely one or two slides that I could have reduced or even deleted altogether to cut my timing. If this was a presentation that was 6-10 minutes long, it would have been perfect, however it was not and I should have kept that in mind. That being said, I am proud of myself and believe that the content I had will take priority over me going over time, as the product itself was well done in my opinion.
I have a few ideas for the History of a Public Controversy project, though I think originally I was looking more at scandals instead of controversies. Discussing the differences in class today was very helpful.
- My first idea is a little bit basic but the overturn of Roe v Wade and abortion access is a largely debated controversy in today’s political and social climates. This is a debate that has been going on for decades so it spans a long time and affects a wide range of people. There are people on both sides– pro-choice and pro-life who have varying arguments about when life begins and whether a fetus is entitled to the same rights as a born person. There are people who are very passionate in their opinions on this, including myself.
- Secondly, the idea of assisted suicide is something interesting to me. This has been widely debated for a while and is in the public sphere. Some people believe that assisted suicide is really just homicide and could be a slippery slope to medical malpractice, while others believe that terminal patients should have the opportunity to choose a quick and painless death instead of waiting and getting weaker by the day, burdening their families financially.
- Obesity is widely debated and is very applicable, specifically in the US as the fattest nation in the world. Some people believe in body positivity and that there should be adjustments made for obese individuals such as larger seats, larger doorways, more inclusive sizing, etc, while others argue that this is normalizing an unhealthy lifestyle. This topic is something that I especially see on social media platforms.
- Lastly, the death penalty is something that has evolved over time and has been widely debated. This penalty could impact many lives, especially for incarcerated individuals. Some people believe in the idea of a life for a life, that violent crimes should be met with the ultimate sacrifice, while others either do not think that murder should be justified in any context or that its a greater punishment to allow criminals to rot in prison for their whole lives.
I’ll have to discuss these various ideas with my group members and see what project we want to end up doing. I’m also curious to see what ideas my group members have come up with.
We have made it. The final passion blog of the semester and no better way to end it than with the best Barbie movie of all time: Princess and the Pauper. I don’t even know if I can do this film justice with my words alone. It is a cinematic masterpiece that stands the test of time.
Princess and the Pauper follows two polar opposite girls- Princess Anneliese and pauper Erika. Anneliese lives a privileged life in the castle, but when her kingdom begins to go bankrupt she is set up to be engaged to King Dominic, which is unfortunate for her because she is in love with Julian, a commoner who is her best friend. What they also don’t realize is that the Queen’s treasurer, Preminger, is the one stealing the kingdom’s natural resource of gold for himself so that the princess will have to marry him for his riches and make him the king. Erika, on the other hand, was born into poverty and works as a seamstress for the abusive Madam Karp to pay off her debt. The catch is, Anneliese and Erika look exactly alike (except for hair color– hence a wig). When Preminger kidnaps Anneliese to prevent the wedding to King Dominic that would interfere with his plan to become king, Julian enlists Erika to impersonate Anneliese where she ends up falling for Dominic.
Just by the storyline, it is clear that this movie is complex. This is not your basic kid’s movie with a predictable, two-dimensional storyline. There are twists and turns and betrayals. It’s complicated because when Anneliese “ran away” (was kidnapped by Preminger) she (Preminger) left a note behind but was signed with the wrong scent, which Julian recognized. He became suspicious of Preminger which is why he went to find Erika. He knew that when “Anneliese” (Erika) returned and did not instantly tell everyone about the kidnapping (because only real Anneliese knows), Preminger would get suspicious and go to check on Anneliese, where real Julian could follow her. Unfortunately, Anneliese ends up escaping but when she returns they don’t believe it’s her since Erika is in her spot. Preminger ends up finding out their plan and Anneliese and Julian both end up kidnapped, left for dead, but escape last minute. Preminger makes plans to marry the Queen and exposes Erika as a fraud, where she is then let free by King Dominic. In the end, Erika marries Dominic and Anneliese marries Julian.
I know I didn’t have to give the whole synopsis but it is SO GOOD I just couldn’t resist. There is so much dramatic irony that it makes watching it so suspenseful and engaging.
This movie easily has the best music of all the Barbie movies. Every single song is so catchy and amazing and I am absolutely convinced that this movie is the reason I can harmonize in thirds on the spot. Plus, this is the first movie-musical that Barbie did so it’s historic and iconic! When my sister and I were little we would dress up as Anneliese and Erika and perform an entire scene and song for my parents, delivering lines word for word. I have always felt I had a special connection to this movie because of how it reminded me of my sister and I, and these are memories that I continue to cherish.
Anneliese also promotes being a woman in STEM. She easily could have been a pretty princess with no substance or a damsel in distress but it is clear from the beginning that she is intelligent and quick-witted. In her songs she emphasizes her love for reading, and in the situation with her being kidnapped or almost drowning to death, her and Julian quickly come up with effective solutions. It is her discovery of geodes in the cave that she was trapped in that ends up saving the kingdom from financial ruin at the end of the movie.
As for Erika, she finally got her happily ever after not only because she got to marry a King, but because she got to fulfill her dream of traveling the world and singing. Plus the fact that King Dominic- a respectful, attractive, rich, talented, smart, kind, funny man waited for her when she went to travel when he didn’t know when she was going to return set the bar so high for men.
One of the best parts of this movie is the bloopers at the end. A couple of Barbie movies do this, but these bloopers are such a core memory to me. My sister and I would literally rewind the DVD and watch them on repeat over and over again; we could not stop laughing. This movie, like most of the movies on this list, are so quotable and memorable.
All in all, this movie is stunning and beautifully done. This is universally accepted as the best Barbie movie and is the epitome of old Barbie and great cinema. Princess in the Pauper is a clear number one.
So sorry for the delay. I had tonsillitis!
Rachel Malone Ted Talk Slides
This movie is the one that goes hand in hand with the #3 ranking, Barbie Fairy Secret, however this one comes first. In this universe, Barbie is a movie star but gets fired for creative differences with the director and receives hate online. Shortly after, Raquel tricks Ken into breaking up with Barbie on the phone, saying that they are rehearsing lines of a breakup scene, but secretly recording it. With her life falling apart at the seams, Barbie takes a trip to her favorite place as a kid- her Aunt Millicent’s fashion house in Paris. However, upon arrival, Barbie discovers that her aunt’s fashion house is in danger of closing and she as well as her aunt’s assistant, Elise, must put together a fashion show to raise enough money to help save the fashion house. They receive the help of flairies, little fairies with no wings, that have the power to glamorize clothes that inspire them, so they assist in saving too.
First off, the opening montage of this movie is so iconic. It’s a bunch of fashion drawings and it’s black and white, with the color getting painted over on the beat drop. Though this movie isn’t a musical in that the characters never engage in singing, the music that plays over the montages is so good and really catchy. Plus, the dresses throughout this movie are so gorgeous. The fashion show at the end has some of the most beautiful designs and I even had little fashion books when I was younger because I wanted to be a stylist like Barbie. The flairies essentially turn everything glittery, and my sister and I would have debates about what dresses would have looked better without any glitter.
Just like in Fairy Secret, this movie is very funny and has so many one liners that my entire family will just say randomly. Ken specifically serves as comedic relief as he has a storyline of his own. Upon discovering Raquel’s secret breakup with Barbie and him being blocked on all platforms, Ken goes on a journey to Paris to surprise Barbie with a “grand romantic gesture”, but not without obstacles along the way. From a slobbery, bratty kid on a plane to his pants ripping in the airport to missing the train to getting his sweatshirt eaten by a pig, Ken really sets the bar for men. If he wanted to, he would.
This is one of the only times we see Barbie going through a relatable, tumultuous time. In a lot of other movies that revolve around magic, her issues are not really relatable, like her whole family being turned to ice in Magic of Pegasus or trying to break a girl out of a magic mirror in Diamond Castle (though that movie does deal with poverty but thats besides the point). Seeing Barbie just having raw emotions and watching her deal with a breakup and job loss was honestly really refreshing and just relatable.
Additionally, this movie was honestly inspiring to me as a kid. I thought Paris was so cool in this movie, and now I am biliterate in French. I genuinely think one of the first times I was exposed to French and international culture was through this movie, so it’s kind of a full circle moment. Barbie was also such a business woman in this movie. I mean, to put together an entire fashion line and fashion show in the span of, what, a week? A month? To advertise and raise enough money to save an entire business that is on the verge of bankruptcy, to revamp a brand that has already been given a reputation of being outdated in the media is no easy task. Barbie was such a girlboss in this movie and maybe that’s not the only reason I’m a marketing major, but I can definitely take notes.
Plus, spoiler warning, but I do like to see the happy ending, even if its a little cliche. Ken surprises Barbie at the fashion show and all is well, Barbie saves the fashion house, and she not only gets her reputation as a movie star back, but is offered the role as a director of a new movie due to her creative ideas and execution of the fashion show that was broadcasted on TV. I love to see a girlboss winning.
Again, since this is one of the later movies, released in 2010, many OG barbie fans haven’t seen it. However, this movie remains one of my favorites and is a constant rewatch for me and my siblings. Solid number two pick.
