Mirror, mirror on the wall…

…are there any self-possessed Disney heroines at all?

But it’s not insignificant that it’s taken the better part of a century to get this far.

Bibbidi bobbidi…Boo.

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Disney; Everett Collection

Though you want her to fight back, Cinderella takes the high road in her pumpkin carriage.

At least her one goal isn’t to marry a prince…that kind of just happens.

Sleeping Beauty, Briar Rose) sure has a lot of aliases.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

Everett Collection

Even in 1959reviewers were botheredby the similarities between Aurora and Snow White, especially in their slumbering passivity.

Achieving a dream or changing for a man?

An improvement, even thoughher storystill ends with romance.

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Disney

The original fixer-upper boyfriend, perhaps?

Song may be as old as rhyme, butthiswas the Belle we needed right now.

Jasmine had another big-screen moment in the2019 live-action remake ofAladdin, directed byGuy Ritchie.

SLEEPING BEAUTY,Princess, 1959

Everett Collection

), she also is crowned the sultana regnant.

We stan this confident woman in power.

In truth, the real Pocahontas married a Brit and changed her name to Rebecca Rolfe.

THE LITTLE MERMAID, 1989. photo: © Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

Everett Collection

But, you know, she also didn’t have a raccoon for a friend.

She struggles at first, but soon faces off against the Huns with brawn, brains, and bravery.

Mulangot the live-action treatment in 2020withYifei Liuas the titular solider.

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Disney

She’s discharged from the army in this version, too, but still manages to free the emperor.

When she kisses a prince disguised as a frog, she becomes one herself.

Eventually they marry, kiss, and become human againand Tiana gets her restaurant.

ALADDIN, Princess Jasmine, 1992, (c)Walt Disney Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

Everett Collection

Later, Flynn is injured by Gothel, and Rapunzel nearly sacrifices her hard-won freedom for him.

Shedoesn’tbut her story still ends, like most of the others, with a marriage.

Merida, though, wants nothing to do with their plan.

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Disney

She beats them all, but her mother says her refusal to marry will cause unrest in the kingdom.

Ughare we really forcing a 16-year-old to get married?

Her prize at the end is a happy, intact family, not a proposal.

MULAN, Cri-kee, Mushu, Mulan , Khan, 1998. c) Walt Disney Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett Collection.

Everett Collection

It’s sad to be this excited when a heroine is not an obligatory teenage bride.

When he turns out to be a villain, Anna instead falls for the unassuming good guy.

(You’re welcome.)

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

Disney

TANGLED

Disney

“BRAVE”

Disney

FROZEN

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Disney

Raya and the Last Dragon

‘Raya and the Last Dragon’.Disney

Encanto

‘Encanto’ by Disney.Disney