Image Credit: azquotes.com

One of my dearest friends, Michaela Leigh, tagged me, along with 31 other amazing women, in a Facebook post the other day with this article and the following script:

“this one is for all the vibrant and ambitious Outlaw Women, Cowgirls, Gunsmoke Gals, and Femme Sharks in my life. your dreams and accomplishments inspire and delight me. may every day be filled with such unbridled joy that all you can do is throw your head back and laugh.”

Entitled “In Defense of Villianesses,” the author brilliantly starts to describe characteristics of powerful, confident, self-assured women.

Then, she applies those characteristics to Disney villianesses.

Here’s some of the examples she used:

• Maleficent
• Cruella de Vil
• The Queen from Snow White
• Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove
• Shego from Kim Possible
• Ursula from The Little Mermaid

I eagerly started searching the Internet for quotes and images:

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Image Credit: quotesgram.com

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Image Credit: pinterest.com

One line stuck out to me instantly:

• ” … Why is it that I can easily remember the faces and voices of female cartoon villains, but if asked about female cartoon heroes, all I can remember is the clothes?”

Wow.

She’s absolutely right.

And then, towards the end of the piece, she blew me away again:

• ” …How might you laugh if you’d burned every bridge that needed burning, and there was nothing standing in the way of your ambition? How might you look, if the only person you needed to please with your fashion choices was you? It’s delicious and frightening to think about becoming the type of woman that a Disney illustrator would light from below, surrounded by billowing smoke, with your henchmen cowering in the background and every opportunity spread before you. It’s thrilling to imagine a life where your only fear is mortality, and even that can be negotiated out of the way if you know the right people or brew the right potions. It’s wonderful and terrible to think about having that much power, because as we all know, that much power makes you a villainess. …”

Her writing blew my mind.

I grew up admiring the Disney Princesses, especially Belle. I wanted to live in the Beast’s castle and fawn over that gorgeous, amazing, stunning library.

Image Credit: kardsunlimited.com

Image Credit: pinterest.com

—

As a child, and then transitioning into a woman, I remember fearing these villainesses.

The Queen from Snow White gave me nightmares for a while.

I pictured Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil for several years.

Image Credit: disney.wikia.com

Maleficent made me instantly cringe.

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Ursula gave me goosebumps.

Image Credit: disney.wikia.com

Yzma’s voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

Image Credit: pinterest.com

But, in a way, Sarah’s right.

Most of the Disney Princesses are portrayed as brave, heroic, ambitious, and determined.

However, the villainesses also have those characteristics.

And they don’t get the credit they deserve.

Like Sarah, I stand in defense of these villainesses.

—

I still admire Belle, but I admire her for her love of books.

I hope to have children one day, and because of this, I want to show them both sides of these characters. Yes, these women may be portrayed as villainesses, but they’re not all bad.

In fact, some of their qualities are significantly better than those of the princesses.

What do you think?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: sheknows.com

I’ve jabbered on, from time to time, how awesome my friend Megan P’s blog, Freckled Italian, is. She’s amazing!

Thanks to one of her more recent “Friday Favorites” posts, I found this link in one of the comments:

• I Illustrated Disney Princesses As Modern Day Girls Living In The 21st Century

I love this concept!

Anoosha’s artwork is fun and colorful. Her descriptions made me laugh so hard! I read it, and re-read it, and read it again.

Usually, that’s a sign for me to write about something.

To be honest, I don’t really have a favorite Disney Princess.

As a child, I dressed up as Snow White and Pocahontas. I loved the plastic Pocahontas jewelry set from Toys R’ Us. One of our dear friends even made me a more historically accurate Pocahontas costume, and I was so sad when I realized that I had outgrown it. (Time to ask Mom if she kept it!)

I keep forgetting that Anastasia wasn’t a Disney Princess, but she is, in my eyes.

Mulan made me want to stand up against bullies.

Jane made me want to see the world and interact with animals.

Tiana furthered my love of history, and wanting to see New Orleans someday.

Merida made me want to learn archery and get back on a horse.

I’ve seen all of the movies, multiple times, although I must confess that I never watched The Little Mermaid all the way through until college.

Out of all of them that Anoosha illustrated (Note: Not all the princesses are featured), I think I most closely associate with Belle.

My mom has a picture of me, at six years old, happily smiling as Belle at Disney World has her hands on my shoulders.

I have dreamed of / longed for / obsessed over having the library that she explores for years – Every single detail.

I love that she’s portrayed as a fangirl, loving books and Doctor Who and fanfiction. It reminds me of the Nerdy, Geeky, and Damn Proud Of It post I wrote last year.

I love this piece. I’ve saved the web link, for future reference. I want to show this to my future children, to show them that life is not all about pink and dresses and castles and fairytales.

These young women are graceful, strong, intelligent, beautiful, adventurous, and kick-ass awesome.

Plus, this is a reminder to myself, as well. I love getting dressed up, putting on makeup, and feeling like a princess – Occasionally.

Anoosha turned the princesses into images that we all can relate to – and I’m over the moon excited about it.

I wonder if these illustrations could be turned into dolls?

Check out more of Anoosha’s work here.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂