The first Disney movie gave audiences the first princess, a demure wallflower named Snow White, who would rather live in the middle of a forest than deal with her stepmother's Machiavellian habits. Disney princesses are rarely damsels in distress, even in stories where the princesses don't seem to wield any noticeable power.
Many of them are forced to suppress their true potential so their princes can take all the glory, but this archaic notion has significantly eroded over the past several decades. The inherent strength displayed by Disney princesses has inspired multiple generations of viewers.
10 Aurora's Willpower Briefly Dispels Maleficent's Enchantment — Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Sleeping Beauty's Princess Aurora becomes Briar Rose when the Good Fairies assume her care, hoping to protect the girl from Maleficent's curse. She is relatively meek, but her reticence shouldn't be confused for weakness.
Aurora reveals fragments of her strength by rebelling against her "aunts," forcing them to disclose her royal identity. Aurora briefly hesitates before touching the cursed spindle and falling into a dreamless sleep, illustrating the depth of her agency.
9 Cinderella's Independent Streak Is Ahead Of Her Time — Cinderella (1950)
Cinderella is subjected to incessant abuse in Lady Tremaine's harsh household, but she doesn't allow herself to succumb to desperation. On the contrary, Cinderella treats every day like it's a new beginning — a ray of hope that keeps her warm in the otherwise gloomy atmosphere.
One of her defining features is her independence, seen when she sneaks out from under her stepmother's laser vision. Cinderella goes to the ball, meets Prince Charming, and later returns home without anyone the wiser.
8 Belle's Courage And Intelligence Forces The Beast To Rethink His Preconceptions — Beauty And The Beast (1991)
Beauty and the Beast's Belle is one of the first Disney princesses to openly embrace her nerdiness. She is exceptionally smart and equally well-read, considerably more than most of her village. In fact, Belle's progressive nature is at odds with the conservative villagers.
She isn't a princess by birth, nor is she interested in acquiring meaningless wealth and titles. Belle's courage is so unexpected that the Beast himself is flummoxed. He finds her non-compliant attitude annoying at first, but he eventually grows to respect Belle's unyielding fortitude.
7 Ariel Is Both Strong And Stubborn, Just Like Her Father — The Little Mermaid (1989)
Ariel is a little too adventurous for her father's taste; King Triton expects his daughters to behave according to their status and not go gallivanting under the sea. The father and daughter pair don't realize how similar they are until the very end of The Little Mermaid.
Ariel bravely steps into Ursula's ominous lair, requesting the Sea Witch to give her a human body in order to live on land where her crush, Prince Eric, can be found. Ariel's heart is in the right place, even if her actions are occasionally erratic and disobedient.
6 Tiana Is More Than Capable Of Making Her Dreams A Reality — The Princess And The Frog (2009)
In Disney's The Princess and the Frog, Tiana puts all her eggs in the hard-work basket. Her struggle to make a name for herself is a learning experience for when she triumphs. Tiana's faith in her self-reliance is founded on reality, but this doesn't stop her from dreaming about owning a restaurant of her own.
Tiana sometimes makes dubious financial choices, like insisting on earning the money she needs rather than taking a handout from Big Daddy. At the same time, Tiana is strong enough to build her vision from scratch.
5 Pocahontas Fights For Those Unable To Speak For Themselves — Pocahontas (1995)
Pocahontas gives John Smith a fundamental lesson in ecology, that "every rock and tree and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name." She is symbiotically linked to her environment, allowing her to translate the language of nature itself.
Pocahontas is a gleaming beacon of strength and justice, always fighting on behalf of those unable to speak for themselves — whether they're animals, plants, or the human colonists who land on her shores.
4 Moana Envisions A Better World Than The One Given To Her — Moana (2016)
Moana exerts her autonomy from a very young age, much to her father's chagrin. Despite the occasional lapse into self-doubt, Moana "stands out from the crowd" in terms of her broader vision for how the world should be.
She immediately accepts the duty thrust on her by the ocean and flouts the authorities in her zeal to restore Te Fiti's lost heart. Moana's boldness is bolstered by her natural talents, but it is her bond with the ocean that makes her such a formidable character.
3 Jasmine Doesn't Need The Magic Lamp To Tap Into Her Potential — Aladdin (1992)
Disney's Aladdin sees Jasmine tackle the shackles of societal convention with extraordinary grace. She rejects the notion of a docile princess and flees the palace compound to mingle with the citizens of Agrabah. Jasmine learns more about her people in a single day than her father, the Sultan, does during his entire reign.
In the end, Jasmine secures her freedom by taking matters into her own hands. She is brainy, gutsy, and fully earns her right to the throne of Agrabah. Aladdin needs Genie to tap into his potential; Jasmine reaches her potential without any help.
2 Elsa's Ice-Magic Notwithstanding, Her Love For Anna Is The True Source Of Her Strength — Frozen (2010)
Elsa's ice magic is arguably the strongest ability displayed by any Disney princess in terms of pure power. Her feats in Frozen range from creating art pieces for the castle ballroom to literally manipulating the weather.
Elsa's capacity for destruction is theoretically limitless, explaining why she tries to suppress her gift. While her magical talents are spectacular, it can be argued that Elsa's love for Anna is the wellspring that nourishes her inner strength.
1 Fa Mulan Proves That Women Can Do Anything Men Can And More — Mulan (1998)
Fa Mulan thwarts the rules of society, instead preferring to live life on her own terms. She decides to save her disabled father from compulsory conscription by pretending to be a man.
Mulan's bravery is quickly put to the test, but she manages to stump both Shan Yu and Li Shang with nothing more than sheer audacity. Mulan is the embodiment of strength, whether as "a raging fire" or a "great typhoon." She proves that women can do everything men can and more.