THE DISNEY PRINCESS FORMULA (And Why It Needs To Change)

The glass slipper is no longer fitting the "mega-thin" Disney Princess. It's time for some change. But is the world ready for a PLUS-SIZED PRINCESS?

Meredith Viguet / Via blisstree.com

I have some big news.YES, the rumors are true…….

I am a Disney lover. Especially a Disney Princess lover! But as I grow older, I find myself more and more frustrated with Disney’s lack of diversity in the body types of their female protagonists. Heck, I could be talking about any film’s female protagonists (since this is oh-so unfortunately prevalent in Hollywood), but it irks me most when it is displayed time and time again in children’s animation. Children are incredibly susceptible to the images and stereotypes portrayed by the media. The beauty industry perpetuates the image of perfection daily, and young girls have virtually no escape from the storm of videos, pictures, singers, dancers, actresses, cartoon characters and more that influence their ideas of what a female should “look” like. It breaks my heart.

Every female Disney protagonist has had the same slender body type since the days of Walt. Waists that, in reality, no-to very few women actually achieve, thin and delicate necks, tennis ball eyes, long beautiful limbs, flawless skin…they are all stunning. And I get it. It sells. But what we’re seeing right now is a shift. Individuals are raising their voices in a demand for representation. Large bodies, small bodies, bodies that express themselves in a way different from their gender, bodies of different races. We want real representation. Not the bullcrap “lite” version everyone’s spoon feeding us.

Deviantart-ist, Meredith Viguet breaks down the Disney Princess figure formula. And it’s eye-opening. Watching the process, seeing how these famous role-models are created. The building blocks behind Elsa and Anna. Gander through these photos if you will–when I browsed through them, I couldn’t help but feel an intense need to do something. To make a difference. To CHANGE things.

Crazy, isn’t it? That it all comes down to a few factors? And look, the last thing I want is Disney to encourage girls to become unhealthy in either direction (whether it be overeating or starving themselves). However, I do think we can argue that since 1938 (the release of Snow White), we have received a very one-sided view of the female body from Disney, a view that leans much more toward the dangerously-skinny side (no skinny shame here, however when all 13 Disney Princesses have extremely thin wrists, necks, and waists, and there is no variety whatsoever, we have a problem). What I am asking for are Disney Princesses that come in all shapes, sizes, and body types. Disney Princesses that have as much variation that we as humans do. We cannot continue to filter each Princess through a “perfect” machine to make sure she measures up. This simply teaches our girls that they need to strive for something more, something “better,” something “beautiful.”

So what can you do? You can check out the petition that brilliant high schooler, Jewel Moore wrote up to add plus-sized princesses into the mix. She makes it very clear that more than anything, she wants a wider range of representation for young girls. Take a look, and if you dare, sign the petition for change. As Disney prepares it’s 2018 Princess film, “Spirited” about a young girl named Moana, we actually may have a chance to influence their design decisions.

I want my daughters to see Disney Princesses with glasses, disabilities, all sorts of talents. I want them to see strong Princesses with muscles, girls who are short and tall and have more curves and a “little extra.” I want my daughters to see Disney Princesses with NO LIMITATIONS. After all, that’s what the magic of Disney was built upon was it not? Freedom of imagination? Wishing upon stars is fine, but the real magic doesn’t begin until we roll up our sleeves and make change.