Meet the new role-models for young girls: The Disney princesses

Most adult women today grew up listening to fairy tales where there is a beautiful princess and a witch and a prince and a ‘happily ever after.’ As beautiful and magical as these stories seemed when we were young, as a working woman in my mid-twenties, I’m horrified thinking about how I grew up believing that my only options were either be a shy, timid, beautiful princess; or a woman who knows sorcery (or reads informative books) and is hideous to look at. And worse, that my only shot at happiness was getting the right man to spend my life with (not to mention I will only be liked by him if I look pretty.)

Thankfully, with the increased awareness about how women are portrayed in films and on television, we now have women characters who are strong, independent women with high-end career prospects like being a lawyer or a doctor. Yet, little girls in school still hold on to ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty’ as their idols. Thankfully, the films being made these days that are based on these stories are changing how young girls view their heroes. Even with the ‘magic’ and ‘princesses’ themes intact; these animated leading ladies are strong-headed women who don’t depend on a prince to save them.

Today we list some of our favourite animated characters from films in the recent times:

‘Merida’
Picture By: HD Wallpapers

MERIDA

She is a princess who doesn’t need a knight-in-shining-armour, because she is her own knight-in-shining-armour. She is a better archer than most of her suitors and single –handedly saves her entire family from/of bears. The best part about her, however, is her insensitivity towards her appearance. She wears a dark, plain dress, her ornaments being the archery equipment strapped onto her body with her unruly curly hair going all over the place.

Why we love her:

The body-image issues all young girls know too well are deemed irrelevant by a Disney princess, teaching little girls, that the conventional idea of beauty is not the only asset a woman has.

Rapunzel from 'Tangled'
Picture By: HD Wallpapers Wide

RAPUNZEL

The Disney movie, ‘Tangled’ completely transformed this character from a ‘damsel in distress’ to a ‘go-getter.’ Unlike waiting around for a prince to show up and rescue her, she captures a thief, convinces him to take her around and fights bad guys with her only equipment- a frying pan. One of the youngest Disney princesses, Rapunzel is as brave and smart as her street-smart companion who is a cunning thief.

Why we love her:

Instead of being saved by the ‘True Love’s Kiss,’ she saves her dying hero by healing him through her magical powers, successfully breaking the clichéd stereotype forever.

Elsa and Anna from 'Frozen'
Picture By: Geek Mom

ELSA and ANNA

Loosely based on the ‘Snow Queen,’ the movie ‘Frozen’ is one of the most popular and successful animation films in the recent years. The leading ladies, Elsa the Ice Queen and Anna, a naïve princess are both sisters, who stand up against all odds for what they believe in. Along with the central theme of the movie being the love and bond between two sisters; it also teaches young girls to appreciate their individuality.

Why we love them:

Both the female characters are the main protagonists in the film who drive the story without the need of a man who can save the day.

Tiana from 'The Princess and the Frog'
Picture By: Complex.com

TIANA

Being a black princess, Tiana made her entry with a bang, telling little girls all over that being beautiful has nothing to do with the colour of your skin. Her dream is to be an entrepreneur and fulfill the wishes of her parents rather than marry the first rich prince in sight. She kisses the frog prince to help him get back his original human form and not in the hope of becoming a princess herself. Later, she finds the courage to follow her heart without any regard to her outward appearance.

Why we love her:

Tiana is a strong-headed businesswoman who knows how to put her personal goals above what’s expected of her as a woman.

Fiona from 'Shrek 4'
Picture By: APK Flash

FIONA

Princess Fiona is by far the strongest woman character Disney has introduced. She is a beautiful princess, who is destined to marry a handsome prince and live happily ever after in a massive castle. Instead, she falls in love with an Ogre, going against everything she has been told since she was a baby, and marries him for love, rejecting beauty and wealth. Her biggest strength, however, lies in the fact that along with accepting an Ogre as her husband, she doesn’t mind being transformed into one for love.

Why we love her:

The most unconventional Disney princess, she looks beyond physical appearance and chooses to be with an ogre rejecting the unadventurous prince and his riches.

Telegraph>