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There’s a Disney storm brewing—and no, it’s not one of the Park’s classic thunderstorms.
Over the weekend, a heated debate on Twitter questioned Disney’s most graceful characters. With Disney’s finger forever on the pulse of nostalgia, the stories surrounding Disney’s princesses have had a hold on fans for nearly a century. Whether it’s their dreamy vocals, cute companions, triumphs, or relatability, everyone seems to have a royal favorite in Disney fandom.
With shifting cultural norms and sensitivities since Snow White’s debut in 1937, there’s tension around representation in Disney’s circle of princesses. With certified Disney classics and empowered Disney trailblazers, @DPrincess_Facts posed a simple yet polarizing question in a viral post on Twitter:
Who are your ‘Big 3’ Disney Princesses?
Who are your 'Big 3' Disney Princesses? pic.twitter.com/UAnGuIsy4J
— Disney Princess Facts (@DPrincess_Facts) May 22, 2023
Related: Dozens of New Animatronics Announced For Tiana’s Bayou Adventure!
Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle would seem like obvious choices since they share prime real estate in Disney’s Parks around the globe. Still, they’re only three of the 13 Disney princesses officially marketed by Disney.
While predictable responses, including Ariel and Mulan, rose to the top of the comments, one more modern princess’s name started trending on Twitter: Princess Tiana.
Moving into her own prominent Disney Park space with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure replacing the coveted Splash Mountain, Tiana has sparked buzz around Disney for months. As Disney’s First African American princess who overcame the odds with hard work and perseverance, it’s no surprise that Tiana has garnered a growing fan base.
But if Halle Bailey’s tumultuous run as the first black Ariel in The Little Mermaid has taught us anything, it’s that progressive Disney princesses tend to get backlash. Anika Noni Rose’s Tiana from The Princess and the Frog inspired a generation of Disney princess fans, but she didn’t quite win over every princess enthusiast on the thread. Although Tiana’s name kept springing up as a “Big 3” contender, fans like @ArielandToad54 disagreed with the distinction, with a top three excluding Tiana:
Ariel
Cinderella
Rapunzel in that order specifically (also speaking specifically of animated, live action as of right now the only princess I liked has been Aurora but in general I just prefer animated media)
Ariel
Cinderella
Rapunzel in that order specifically (also speaking specifically of animated, live action as of right now the only princess I liked has been Aurora but in general I just prefer animated media)— Ariel and here comes Toad (@ArielandToad54) May 22, 2023
In Tiana’s defense, @blkwatcher said:
the person who got jumped for saying rapunzel along with tiana and mulan was speaking factually idc
the person who got jumped for saying rapunzel along with tiana and mulan was speaking factually idc https://t.co/AcZjwC8xOg
— KNTY News anchor 💭 (@blkwatcher) May 22, 2023
More Tiana fans like @kenejathegr8 emphasized the power of representation for black girls, cementing Tiana in an unwavering spot on the short list of Disney’s best princesses:
every little Black girl was Princess Tiana down.. i mean night gowns, princess dresses, tea cup sets, the healed sandals, allat. don’t down talk her ever
every little Black girl was Princess Tiana down.. i mean night gowns, princess dresses, tea cup sets, the healed sandals, allat. don’t down talk her ever
— thee villainess ⭐️ (@kenejathegr8) May 20, 2023
Tiana aside, the Disney discourse could last longer than Sleeping Beauty’s nap. Disney princesses are the idols that shaped countless childhoods, and they will always hold a special place in the hearts of Disney enthusiasts ready to spring at the chance to defend their favorites.
As Disney strides toward inclusivity and representation, the conversation will expand for years to come.
