by Ienka Santos
When you think of Disney, the mind automatically goes to the iconic fairy tales, and most importantly their fabulous princesses. Starting from the first ever princess movie, Snow White, and continuing to their most recent Raya and the Last Dragon, the debate regarding which princess is genuinely the best still drags on. However, today the argument will finally end as the top 5 princesses will be revealed.
- Belle
Beauty and the Beast gave us one of the most loved princesses, Belle. She is a kind and soft-spoken lady who cares for everyone, especially her father. She was willing to teach young girls how to read even though it was not the “norm” at the time, and did not care if she was humiliated by doing so. She even took her dad’s place as the Beast’s prisoner which shows what kind of person she truly is. Lastly, Belle overlooks the Beast’s flaws and loves him for who he is, which in turn broke the curse that was put upon him. This is why Belle deserves a spot on this list.
- Rapunzel
Next up on the list is Rapunzel from the movie Tangled. Rapunzel was lied to her entire life by her “mother”, Gothel, who kidnapped her when she was just a baby. She was helpful and reliable to her fake mother and was basically obedient to anything she said. Rapunzel doesn’t judge people based on their reputations, rather, she looks deeper to reveal the characteristics of their hearts. She gave the pub thugs a chance and actually became friends with them. She even married one of them, who is none other than our beloved Flynn Rider. All in all, she’s just a really lovable character.
- Moana
On to number 3, Moana. She sailed across the seas just so she could save the people of her island and her family. She overcame multiple obstacles and put herself in several dangerous scenarios in order to protect the ones she loved. She puts her family first when it comes to any decision, which makes her truly one of the best Disney princesses to ever be written.
- Tiana
- Coming in second place is none other than Tiana from Princess and the Frog. Tiana is a very talented woman, she is very ethical when it comes to work, and strives for only the best. Even though all odds are stacked against her, she never gives up on her dream. She is one of the few princesses whose plot did not rely on being saved by a male figure. She truly is quite remarkable.
- Mulan
Finally, the best Disney princess to ever exist is Mulan. She sacrificed so much for her family including herself by going to war in her father’s place. She put herself in a position where she could be killed anytime. Finally, when the emperor began to praise her, she remained humble and still placed the needs of others before her own. She was independent and persevered through multiple hardships. Unlike other princess movies, Mulan was the one who saved the people. Mulan is yet another example of a strong female role model for young audiences. This is why she is the best princess on this list.
These characters show traits that every audience member should possess, such as kindness and bravery. At such an influential age and in a society that has been critical of young girls, it’s needed that representation of strong independent women be put out to the world. Belle, Moana, Tiana, Rapunzel, and Mulan are the princesses that little girls should look up to.
