Every girl goes through the stage in her life where she wants to be a princess. After all we did practically absorb Disney into our bloodstreams as kids. While every girl (or boy) has their favorite princess, some are simply better and more unique than others. So here you go, a definitive (my opinion) ranking of the Disney princesses from most to least Basic. Let’s get down to business.
1. Aurora
This was super easy. Throughout the whole movie, we hardly learn a thing about the real Aurora under the spell of the spinning wheel. Aurora has the least amount of speaking lines out of any Disney princess, with a meager 18 lines for the 18 minutes of screen time that she has during the film. Therefore, even though Aurora may be a classic princess, her bland persona and lack of any sort of memorable characteristics makes her the most basic of them all.
2. Snow White
Next comes another princess with a supreme lack of interesting qualities. Snow White may be the OG princess but in a lineup she is nothing special. Snow White is quick to show her cowardice and ignorance when she comes face-to-face with conflict, playing the victim to huntsmen and evil queens. She is a natural ditz and she uses it to her advantage, when she shows up to a house of seven strangers. And let’s not forget, she falls for the oldest trick in the book and takes food from a stranger, which leads to her death. It’s safe to say that Snow White was not the brightest.
3. Cinderella
Possibly the most well known Disney princess, Cinderella tells the story of going from rags to riches. And while her success of going from maid to princess is substantial, she only married into money. Cinderella teaches young girls that they should rely on a man to ‘save them’ from disparity, when really girls should be empowered to make their dreams come true on their own accord. Cinderella may not have had a bad bone in her body, but she should have had her fairy godmother bippidy-boppidy-boo for a brain.
4. Anna
Now I know I am going against popular opinion, but I really don’t believe that Frozen was anything special. Sure it had a great soundtrack, but Anna is really just like every other princess who is too quick to fall in love. She may be extremely adorable but Anna’s story is hardly anything to fuss over.
5. Ariel
The Little Mermaid was one of those Disney films that every girl was obsessed with at one point or another, especially if you had a pool and could reenact the songs. Ariel is one of the most famous Disney princesses and is loved by millions for her courage to try something totally out-of-her-world, but come on. She literally gave up her family, her talent, and changed her body for a guy who she’d never even spoken to! If Ariel had a Facebook, she’d be asking to get catfished!
6. Rapunzel
A newer addition to the Disney princess family, Rapunzel gives a new face to a classic fairytale. Rapunzel sits in the middle of the pack. She definitely has the cute factor of a ‘small tower girl’ with big dreams and a big heart, but her adorable allure doesn’t go much deeper. Her story is somewhat repeated, but she is still someone you’d want by your side for your next big adventure.
7. Elsa
Again, I am not the biggest fan of Frozen but Elsa manages to make it past the middle. Elsa is the only Queen of the bunch, which separates from the rest and she did experience some serious emotional development, but Elsa also lives up to her name as Ice Queen. Don’t get me wrong, I am totally for a woman being strong and in a position of power, but Elsa is a little too prickly for my taste.
8. Jasmine
Jasmine may not have had a great deal of personal power as a woman during her time, but she was one of the only princesses who made the guy chase her. Jasmine is not the kind of princess who waited for ‘Mr. Right’; she made Aladdin work for her. She proved that she was no prize to be won and in the end, even the sultan couldn’t tell Jasmine whom to love. You go girl.
9. Meg
Tied with Jasmine, Meg similarly made Hercules work to get her affection. Meg may not been of royal birth, but she knew that she didn’t deserve to be hurt by another wonder boy. Meg may have been involved in tricky circumstances with the ruler of the underworld, but under it all she was just another girl trying to make her own way and hiding to protect her sensitive heart. In the end, she gave up the tough girl act for Hercules who literally went to hell and back for her, but she never gave up who she was.
10. Belle
Belle is the perfect example of beauty and brains, proving that a princess can be both pretty and smart. Belle may have been the prettiest girl in her town, but she felt like an outcast because no one appreciated her nerdy side. Belle gives young girls the courage to never dumb yourself down for anyone, especially a guy who only likes you for what you look like. She also shows girls that appearances are more than meets the eye and that you shouldn’t judge people based on unconventional appearances.
11. Tiana
Tiana was not only the first African-American princess, but she was also the first Disney princess that had a job (that didn’t involve being a slave to your evil stepmother). Tiana was a girl with big dreams, but she also knew that in order to reach those dreams she needed to work hard in a very unglamorous setting. And even though Tiana didn’t come from money, the title of a Prince was not the first thing on her mind.
12. Pocahontas
Pocahontas is the kind of girl that everyone would want on his or her team. She is someone who does what is right for her, even if that means going against what has been done before. She has a strong spirit and a wild heart, but never forgets her roots. She literally stands up for what she believes in and sets her differences aside in the name of peace and love. Pocahontas moves to the beat of her own drum and sets the tone for other princesses who weren’t afraid to do what had never been done before.
13. Merida
Merida is sometimes forgotten because she doesn’t have the typical princess ‘look’, but that is what is special about her. Merida’s story doesn’t involve a guy at all and she proves to girls that you don’t need a man to have an incredible adventure. Merida defies the norms of what it means to be a princess by being awkward and defiant but in the end she makes everyone recognize that she will be different as well as powerful as a leader.
14. Mulan
Hello, SHE SAVED CHINA. It baffles me when people gush about Frozen being the first movie to inspire young girls and I do not understand why people don’t give Mulan the credit she deserved. She disguised herself as a boy and joined the army. She fought in a war, was abandoned because she was a female, and made the world respect her for her incredible bravery. She defeated the Huns and was a hero to an entire country. And she made a General go tongue-tied at how freaking incredible of a woman she was. Mulan is Queen and we all need to bow down bitches.