What makes someone a Disney Princess? Is it their ability to be molded into the World’s beauty standard? Is it based on their ability to inspire and impact millions of children? Is it simply based on the stories that they originated from 100s of years ago? Or does it simply rely on the color of their skin?
From the beginning of Disney, there has always been a clear cut image as to who a Disney princess is. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, it is typically a woman who fits the beauty standards of the world, who typically has longer-hair, conventionally attractive features, and a bubbly and innocent personality. The most notable feature however is their fair-skin. Similarly to what is seen with Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Bell, Snow White, Rapunzel, and the list goes on and on.
The standard that has been set by Disney is rooted in the United State’s racist and anti-black history, where darker-skin tones and conventionally black features were considered to be “ugly”, “unattractive”, and unworthy of being displayed as princesses. In the late 21st century as movements across the country have strived towards paving the way for black women to shine in every aspect of their lives, is it now their turn to be demonstrated as Disney Princesses?
This question alone is responsible for creating incredible turmoil and despair between Disney enthusiasts around the United States. In July of 2019, Disney announced that the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, scheduled to be released in 2023, would feature Halle Bailey, an incredibly talented and Black woman to play the role of Ariel.
With the release of this decision, many took to social media claiming that “The real Ariel is white” even going so far as to start the hashtag #NotMyAriel in protest to Disney “changing” the original story that people have grown to know and love.
It’s important to highlight that the other details of the movie were remaining the same while the minor detail of the Princess’s skin color was to change. The rhetoric used by the media and others who were opposed to the decisions caused the Dinsey, the movie and the directors behind its casting to receive lots of backlash for their decisions and created a circle of hatred around the film and its release.
Circling back to the original questions, Halle Bailey played the role of Ariel and looked absolutely stunning doing so and inspired millions of children and adults at the same time. This movie is just the beginning of a more accepting and open-minded movement, and I’m so excited to see where it’ll go.
Who will our next Disney princess be?
I am amazed by your ability to not only draw the reader in from the first line, but keep them entertained until the last. Each sentence supported your main idea while still giving room for the readers own interpretation. Your use of questions gives the reader a chance to explore their own opinions and even formulate new ones based on the persuasiveness of your writing. This analysis on an issue made so large by the public over a simple fictional character is truly eye-opening.
Your style of writing is beautifully elegant and your use of media at the end really draws the real world back into the text. I absolutely agree with your take on the Little Mermaid and also thought Halle Bailey did a wonderful job! Overall, your use of vocabulary is sublime and it draws the reader in like an adventure under the sea 🙂
I was hooked from not only the very first paragraph, but the title. You have a beautiful writing style and I love your use of media. Although it is a controversial topic (even though it shouldn’t be) you handled it wonderfully. Halle Bailey truly is the epitome of a Disney princess, she did amazing.
I absolutely love your storytelling and writing abilities. Growing up “The Little Mermaid” was my favorite Disney movie and I loved Halle Bailey in the role of Ariel. I 100% agree with you, there does need to be more representation of women of color as main Disney princesses and I too am excited to see where the future of Disney princesses goes. I really loved this post!