Top 3 princesses

Well they’re all pretty fly, but when it comes down to choosing your top three you have to look for the most unique, the most memorable, and the most striking.

First place

If only I could make him understand. I just don’t see things the way he does. I just don’t see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad. Ariel has always been my number one. For one thing, she is the only half human princess; a mermaid and the one thing I associate merpeople with. I used to look out for the swish of the red hair and turquoise tail in the sea and that crystal voice resonating through the waves.  What I love about Ariel is her curiosity and affinity to question her surroundings. She is adventurous, courageous whilst still maintaining an air of innocence and naivety.  Her exploratory nature is affirmed in her will to marry a human and embrace a completely different world. Ariel inspires young ladies to take risks in order to reach their goals (even if it means losing your voice for a bit), to unite through diversification, to challenge convention and to welcome change. Ariel is the perfect example of how we do not have to stick to what we know to live a fulfilled life.



Princess Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid

Second place

It’s a pity and a sin, she doesn’t quite fit in, but she really is a funny girl, a beauty, but a funny girl, she really is a funny girl, that Belle. This one may be human, but she definitely doesn’t fall for one.  What strikes me about Belle is how her unconventional character clashes with the conventions of a small provincial town in rural France. Unlike other girls she has no interest in finding a husband or falling for Gaston’s falsified charm, she just wants to read her book and explore new places. What makes Belle the most memorable for me was her kindness and compassion. She risks her life for her father and challenges the Beast to be the best he can be. She has no prejudice towards differences and is not in any way superficial as conveyed at the end when she falls deeply in love with the beast despite his hideous appearance. The movie’s main message 'not to be deceived by appearances for beauty is found within' is indeed personified by Belle’s character.

Princess Belle from Disney's Beauty and the Beast

So we have a red head and a brunette and now we need a fair haired gal. Most people would include Elsa in their top three as the fastest selling and most lucrative Disney princess in history. As fabulous as she is, I am not going to list her in my top three. My third is going to be Rapunzel (yes I know she becomes brunette at the end, but that short scruff of a bob ain’t her selling point, let’s face it, we are all nuts about that long golden hair).

Third place

I could go running/ and racing/and dancing/ and chasing/and leaping/ and bounding/hair flying/heart pounding/ and splashing/and reeling/and finally now’s when my life begins! I am more of a classical Disney lover and so have never been as fond of the 3D princesses, but Rapunzel broke the mould for me. As one of the first 3D princesses and thus one of the most modern day girl princesses, Rapunzel was one of the first non-feminine, gutsier princesses introducing a quirkier kind of energy as shown in her speech and persona. Like the others she is brave and daring, but is one of the first to befriend a prince before becoming romantically involved. In the movie, Rapunzel and Eugene become ‘intertwined’ in each other’s mess and support each other before realising they are attracted to each other romantically. She’s also sassy and feisty as well as ’warm and real and bright’. Oh and she has a pet chameleon.

Princess Rapunzel from Disney's Tangled

All the Disney princesses have left their own mark, their own songs, their own look and their own stories, but Ariel, Belle and Rapunzel have inimitable characters which is what make them the most unique, the most memorable, and the most striking.  Let’s hear it for my home gals. 

By Tasneem Mahmoud