I was a sassy, talkative two-year-old when the Princess and the Frog came out in 2009. At the time, my parents were so excited that Disney finally had a Black Princess. Honestly, I don’t remember seeing it in the theater, but I’m told I was a huge fan. I do remember asking my mom to play the soundtrack ALL THE TIME. That soundtrack is full of bops. I had a Tiana doll that I LOVED and watched the movie more times than I can count. To this day, The Princess and the Frog is my favorite movie.
As a darker-skinned young Black girl, I love seeing a Disney princess that looks like me. Normally when you see an African American character she is lighter-skinned with wavy hair. I like that Disney chose to show the beauty of dark brown skin and coily hair like mine. Recently, you may have seen a different-looking Tiana in the promos for the new Wreck-It Ralph sequel. Tiana had lighter skin and hair with a looser wave pattern. Many people (including me) thought this was a bad look for Disney. I like that Anika Noni Rose, the voice behind Princess Tiana stepped up and gave voice to the frustration and concern of other brown girls around the world. Disney listened to the public outcry and made the CGI version of Tiana closer to what we would expect for the beloved Frog Princess. OK, Disney… we see you!
Tiana and Anika Noni Rose are both beautiful, confident, intelligent Black women that stand up for what they believe in. They are talented and not ashamed of their beautiful brown skin. All girls, strike that, all people can look at them and get a lesson in how to be proud and comfortable in your own skin.
If it has been a while since you have seen Princes and the Frog, give it a rewatch. If you have never seen it, where have you been? Stop reading this and watch it IMMEDIATELY. You will be glad that you did.
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