The Princess Diaries is a classic movie that taught young girls all over the world valuable lessons about true beauty and self-love. Mia Thermopolis is a heroine that everyone can relate to with her awkwardness and witty humor. So many of the lessons Mia learns in the movie are still so important moving into adulthood, so here are 10 things to keep in mind:
1. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is:
Mia found out the hard way that not everyone has good intentions. At some point, you’ll probably meet someone who you know doesn’t have your best interests at heart, but there’s something about them you can’t resist. Know who you are and what you want, and don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.
2. Don’t be afraid of change
Mia obviously has a huge transformation in the movie, but the real change has nothing to do with her hair. With encouragement from her grandmother, Mia develops from an awkward and shy teenager to a confident and (mostly) poised leader. Change can be scary, but also helps you grow as a person. Trying new things and accepting yourself can be incredibly rewarding!
3. But don’t change yourself to fit in
Mia’s transformation probably should have helped her to fit in with the popular girls, but it actually had the opposite effect. They singled her out as trying to fit in, and teased her mercilessly, just to be mean. Changing yourself to please someone else never ends well. Everyone has different goals and interests, so just do you and everything else will fall into place.
4. Be open minded
Mia’s first reaction to her grandmother’s news was not the most graceful. She was completely against the idea, but eventually warmed up to the idea. It’s easy to jump to conclusions and judge a book by it’s cover, but if you keep an open mind, you never know what you’ll find.
5. Friendship is a two way street
Every friendship has its rough patches, even Mia and Lilly’s. It can be really hard to see your friends change and find other interests, and it might feel like they’re moving on but…
6. If it’s real, they’ll always be there for you.
Even though Mia wasn’t the best friend to Lilly, Lilly understood what Mia was going through and forgave her. They supported each other through thick and thin, which is truly #friendshipgoals. You don’t have to talk to your best friend from home every day, week, or even every month. It can be scary to leave it to fate, but if the friendship is real, you can live your own lives and pick back up where you left off with no problem.
7. Don’t overload yourself
Mia gets so caught up in her princess duties (honestly, who wouldn’t?) that she ends up forgetting about her friends. It can be really easy to decide to join a different club with each of your friends, sign up for classes at the gym, and plan to do all of your homework, but the execution is much more difficult. It’s great to get involved and be proactive, but make sure you stay organized and give yourself time to rest.
8. Family is always with you
Mia’s transformation into a princess doesn’t exactly go smoothly, and she only decides to become a princess after reading a letter from her father. Being away from family can be difficult, but with social media, they’re only a click away. They’ll always be around to give words of encouragement, smiles, and lots of love.
9. True beauty comes from inside
Sure, Mia got the classic “hot girl” makeover, but everyone important to Mia loved her just as much before the makeover as after, because they loved her as a person, not a picture. Anyone can have a pretty face, but a pretty soul is hard to find. Be yourself, and love yourself!
10. No one else can decide your worth
One of the best parts of this movie is when Joe quotes Eleanor Roosevelt to Mia. This is something everyone should hear at least once in their life, if not once every day. It’s so easy to let others make you feel inferior, or even to tell yourself that you aren’t good enough. All of that is just a mindset, and the only person who can decide your worth is you. So accept who you are, and let it shine.
Bonus: When in doubt, dance it out
So basically, live life to the fullest. No one is perfect, but perfection is unattainable. Embrace your awkwardness, and let your inner beauty shine out. Do what makes you happy, and be who makes you happy.