When Loryn Brantz decided to photoshop some Disney's princesses waistlines, making them look more like real-life women, she had no idea her images were going to have such an impact. She said she was sad after she saw the blockbuster film "Frozen" because she realized the main character's bodies hadn't changed since the sixties. With all the issues surrounding body image, eating disorders and depression among teenage girls and little girls, it seems like Disney is a bit outdated. To tell you the truth, her updated version of the princesses looks better and maybe it's time for animators to start shaping these women more realistically.
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The problem here is that little girls look up to these characters. They identify with the princesses and want to be just like them. It doesn't help that Disney sells clothing, wigs, shoes and everything to impersonate the princesses. Look at how many women around the world have been traumatized by Barbie. They have transformed their bodies so extremely that they don't look human anymore. Clearly, those images had a huge impact on them and the way they understood beauty. Valeria, one of the human Barbies said she wanted to be like the doll because she is perfect.
As a mom of two girls, I'm happy that Loryn altered the bodies of the princesses because children don't see them like dolls but more like girls. I remember that after Frozen became so popular, Disney World ticket sales went through the roof. Elsa and Anna became the most desired Disney princesses and the line to "meet" them at the park was hours and hours long. Lots of women with self image and body issues feel pressured to be thin or look a certain way because of the characters they grew up watching on the big screen.
I think it's time to change the way we market beauty because we need to help future generations. Hopefully since Loryn's pictures went viral someone in the film industry will listen and start making some changes. In the meantime, it's good to tell your daughters every day how beautiful they are. If one of them complains about her body, I always tell her she is perfect because I don't want her to grow up like Valeria, thinking she is not.
Images via Corbis, Loryn Brantz/Buzzfeed
