Walt Disney created a franchise of cartoon characters that impacts millions of people around the world even today. However, a distinct group of individuals within this company stands out: the Disney princesses. The official Disney Princess list consists of thirteen characters: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana, and Raya; among them, however, lie six superior characters that singlehandedly deliver the most popularity objectively to the franchise.
Honorable mentions:
Elsa— she would be ranked as number one due to her fond childhood obsession and her astounding magical ice powers, but apparently, she is a queen, not a princess.
- Rapunzel— Rapunzel is a standout Disney princess because she is fiercely independent and proactive, breaking the common damsel-in-distress trope. She longs to go to the outside world, and she even leaves her own comfort zone to do so. She uses her creativity and intelligence to solve problems that she normally doesn’t face, and she allowed her falling in love with a male counterpart to come secondary to her initial dreams. Also, she has beautiful, long blonde hair.
- Moana— Moana is a top-tier Disney princess because she is a brave leader driven by duty to her people rather than romance. Like Rapunzel, she embodies self-empowerment to tackle challenges to save her island. As the first Polynesian princess, she brings new cultural diversity to the Disney lineup and highlights a deep connection to the ocean.
- Mulan— Mulan is an extremely brave individual who risked her life for her father and her country. She broke the stereotype of needing to be a man to acquire great success in times of hardship, and she truly showed her intellect and courage rather than relying on romance. She challenged the gender norms and proved she was a skilled soldier equal to men. Unlike princesses driven by personal dreams, she is motivated by duty to her family and love for her father, which makes her a truly honorable princess.
- Belle— Belle is defined by her deep intelligence through her love for reading. She is independent and compassionate, and her bravery shines through her natural beauty. Also, the way they have Gaston chasing her throughout the entirety of the movie, who is supposed to be the “ideal man,” shows that she can be independent of men and not rely on their support for success. I love all of the different characters that she interacts with and helps.
- Jasmine— Jasmine, like Rapunzel, breaks the traditional damsel-in-distress stereotypes by being independent, assertive, and genuinely intellectually curious. Throughout her entire storyline, she demands the freedom to make her own choices and challenges antiquated laws through rebellious acts. She sees through surface-level wealth (particularly noted in the live action) and genuinely cares about her duty as a future ruler, not just the luxury of palace life.
- Tiana— Tiana is a hardworking, independent, and goal-oriented young girl who constantly strives for her dreams throughout the entirety of the film. As the first Black Disney princess, she deeply represents determination and resilience while showcasing a healthy balance of love and life’s ambitions. She’s not a princess by birth, and that’s what makes her so special. She is truly one of a kind, and she wears the most beautiful green dress at the end of the movie.
