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9 Ways Meghan Markle Is Basically A Real-Life Disney Princess

Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana, and Meghan freakin' Markle.

Heather Braga
by Heather Braga

BuzzFeed Staff

It's no secret that Meghan Markle has caught a lot of heat recently after she and her husband decided to step back from their royal duties in order to live a more peaceful, independent life.

But, no matter how you feel about the couple's life choice, there's one thing we can all likely agree on: Meghan is basically the Disney Princess we've all dreamed of being.

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Don't agree? Let me prove ya' wrong and show you just how many ways this duchess is basically a Disney Princess.

1. Before she even met Prince Harry she had built her own success (without any man, damnit!) and had impressed us all through her role on Suits, two clothing lines, and a lifestyle blog.

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Did Tiana need a significant other to help her get that restaurant? Certainly not! Good, old-fashioned hard work is what helped get her there — just like Meghan and her successful career. I mean, she worked her way up from a briefcase holder on Deal or No Deal to a starring role on a beloved television show (which ran for nine seasons, BTW).

2. She had an actual real-life prince fall for her — likely because she's beautiful, charitable, and intelligent, just like some of the very best Disney heroines.

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Are you not seeing the parallels to Beauty and the Beast? A smart, beautiful girl takes on a wild creature and in the end they both find love! Harry was always known as a "playboy" or "wild child," but Meghan changed that. He fell for her despite the fact she's an American and they shouldn't have been a match (she's the first American to marry into the royal family since 1937!). Overcome those odds, guys! Live that Happily Ever After!

3. Then she got engaged to said prince and in their engagement photos she proved to the globe that she does, in fact, have the glam and style worthy of a Disney Princess.

4. On her wedding day, despite many ups and downs courtesy of her family (hello, Cinderella vibes), she got to marry the man of her dreams in front of the whole world and become royalty IRL.

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Note: I am not going to discuss the horrible actions of Meghan's "family" here or anywhere — they aren't worth her time or ours. K, thanks.

Anyways, you don't need me to explain this one, right? She LITERALLY lived out a Disney Princess moment on her wedding day. She's wearing a freakin' tiara. 'Nuff said.

5. And she literally rode off into the sunset with her prince, something pretty much every Disney Princess has done one way or another.

6. Meghan has proven she is much more than someone's "little wife," as Gaston might've called her. She is a longtime advocate for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women.

7. She made a public statement in Cape Town, South Africa, about how she is a woman of color, letting the world know she is proud of her individuality and who she is.

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During her first visit to South Africa, Meghan spoke of her black heritage, saying:

“On a personal note, may I just say that while I am here with my husband as a member of the royal family, I want you to know that for me, I am here as a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a woman of color, and as your sister."

Meghan proudly shouting from the rooftops about who she is might pretty much be the most Disney Princess thing she can do. At the core of every princess story is an expression of individuality. Queen Elsa? She has magical freakin' powers that scared her people, but were eventually the same reason they embraced her. Ariel? Her singing voice was EVERYTHING and set her apart from everyone else. Mulan fought against her cultural norms and ended up SAVING HER COUNTRY! Meghan's public display of pride for her African American heritage could be the inspiration for a whole slew of Disney ballads — and will definitely encourage kids the way classic Disney Princesses have.

8. Meghan Markle is a patron of Mayhew, an organization that helps to find new homes for cats and dogs. It's only a matter of time before a swarm of enchanted creatures enters her new Canadian home to clean it, amirite?

9. Finally, Meghan bravely chose to live life on her own terms. I hope it helps her (and her family) find the Happily Ever After she (and everyone!) deserves.

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Meghan didn't want to be told how to act, like Belle, who was judged for having her nose stuck in a book. She didn't want to rely on someone else to provide for her, like Tiana, who wanted to proudly earn her own living instead of chasing a princess dream. Meghan wanted her independence in the same way Rapunzel did the moment she climbed out of her tower. And, critics be damned, she's going to have exactly that.

Say what you want about this American turned royal, but Meghan Markle has done things her own way in a manner any Disney Princess would applaud.

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