Dreams as big as a lantern filled sky – pixie dust overflowing into everything we do. Dancing out of shoes and into roles of empowerment and feminist change. Effortlessly beautiful but focusing on kingdoms instead of self. Villains attack but kindness is stronger. Dragons always fall and we will always win.

My whole life I have loved the Disney Princesses – obviously since I work in their kingdoms and write about them regularly. But they are more than an obsession. I grew up with them. I learned so much about being strong and kind and a woman from watching them do it. Their impact is undeniable. To me, they are the ultimate character. I have always acknowledged their flaws but chosen to believe in their magic more.

Disney has an amazing campaign right now called “Dream Big Princess,” which is dedicated to showcasing the empowering qualities of all the princesses.  It’s a feminist movement to empower all the little girls who look up to these characters to see the strong characteristics of these princesses and allow those to be the qualities they fan over.  I’m all for it.

But I think a more realistic movement is to recognize the tragedies each princess has to overcome and the strengths they use to do that.  If we only highlight strengths, we can’t really relate.  We create unrealistic goals and unattainable, fake characters.  But if we acknowledge flaws, complications, and challenges alongside strengths and victories, we create role models worth admiring.

So, welcome to my first series:

DREAM BIG:

a study of the feminist power and effect of the Disney princesses

I want to go through all the Disney Princesses and talk about their tragic and their magic.  Every time we watch a princess movie, as an adult or a child, we are letting them affect us and our worldview. Such is their power. Each princess brings both positive and negative attributes to the table, both impacting the way girls view the world and ultimately themselves. They have so much to teach us and I think we learn so much more from the whole picture rather than just the person who is victorious at the end of her film. How do they fail? What are their struggles? In what ways do they fail to be feminist icons, and in what ways do they redeem that, or do they? What moments and choices deserve our obsession and praise? Why do they deserve their iconic status?

Should we admire them as much as we do?

We’ll be looking at all 11 official princess – Snow, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, and Merida – as well as a few other girlies who are just as impactful even if they don’t officially wear a tiara. Those will be surprises because there’s just no telling how far I’ll take this series. Or if I’ll ever want to let it go.

Their actions, tragic and magic, allow us to DREAM BIG and I’m exited to explore why. I’m very excited about this project and I hope you are too! So without further ado,