Three years later an American Indian princess appeared in “Pocahontas.”
There are currently only five non-Caucasian Disney Princesses: Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana and Moana. Jasmine is Arabian. Pocahontas is Native American. Mulan is Chinese.
Princess Jasmine opened a much needed door for racial diversity in the Disney princess realm. By being the first non-white princess, and being so popular amongst audiences, Disney started to venture off in telling stories of female characters with different cultures and ethnicities.
They were given an official number in the franchise line-up based on the chronological order in which their films were released, starting with Snow White as the first and original Disney Princess, with Cinderella being the second, followed by Aurora and so on.
Pocahontas became the first Native American Disney Princess and the first woman of color to be the lead character in a Disney film. As of 2014, she remains the only Disney Princess to be based on a historical figure.
In Disney's nearly 100-year history, there has been only one Black Disney princess — Princess Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog,” a 2009 animated feature starring Anika Noni Rose. The singer Brandy starred in a 1997 made-for-TV film version of “Cinderella,” a remake of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
Snow White is the pioneer of the Disney Princess, and she is probably the most memorable. She embodies everything you think of when you think of a princess: pure innocence, beauty, kindness and grace. This is why she is number one on our list.
Many fans wondered why Anna wasn't made a Disney Princess, considering she fits the bill: she's human, comes from royalty, is heroic, and even has an animal sidekick in Sven. However, Frozen 2 turned her into the queen after Elsa abdicated, so perhaps the studio always knew Anna wouldn't be a princess for long.
The Walt Disney Company introduced its first plus-size female protagonist in a new short film about body dysmorphia. The animated movie, “Reflect,” tells the story of Bianca, a ballet dancer who “battles her own reflection, overcoming doubt and fear by channeling her inner strength, grace and power.”
1992: Jasmine
It wasn't until Aladdin's Jasmine (voiced by Linda Larkin) that fans saw their first Disney princess of color.
Elena de Avalor is Disney's first Latina princess.
Tinker Bell
Per Disney lore, this was because she committed an act of bravery worthy of a princess, but in reality, it was so the Mouse House could add a popular character to its lucrative line of toys. Commercial reasons were also behind Tinker Bell's removal as a princess.
She was once an official Disney Princess, until 2004. She was removed because her sales were financially disappointing. Along with it, Disney found it difficult to market her to younger children, due to the fact that she is represented with more mature themes in comparison to the other princesses.
Tiana is the first dark-skinned princess of Disney.
Belle is one of the smartest, bravest, and most tender-hearted characters the Disney company has ever created, and her story becomes more and more relevant all the time.
Her country of origin, for example, has been frequently disputed. While some claim Jasmine is Arab because the movie opens with a song called Arabian Nights, others believe that the architecture in Agrabah is clearly based on the Taj Mahal, making Jasmine Indian.
Princess Ananya, has been confirmed by the team, but they have also added that it's quite in the early stages and the team isn't even close to launching her. Having grown up with Ariel, Elsa, Rapunzel, and Snow White, having a Disney Indian princess is a big step towards cultural representation.
Pocahontas was the first Disney Princess to have a visible tattoo!
It was unexpected, Elsa and Anna are both portrayed in the animated film as two Norwegian princesses from the 1840s — it's highly unlikely that their father, the King, was not white.
It shouldn't matter whether or not a child's ethnicity perfectly matches the character being portrayed as long as their costume is of an individual. It's completely acceptable for a child to dress as a character, not a culture. If my insanely white child wants to dress up as Moana, that should be fine.
Disney reveals first Hispanic princess, Princess Elena of Avalor.