Many parents of little girls (and boys) may have helplessly shrugged their shoulders when challenged by their little ones to correctly identify each and every Disney princess. But fear not, this handy guide will once and for all clear your doubts and list each princess and her characteristics in the order of her first cinematographic appearance. Though growing, there have only been ten so far, and the list is still manageable.
Snow White – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Snow White is the one with the shortest hair of all Disney princesses and was also the first one. Her trademark outfit is a blue top with red decoration, a yellow skirt (not covering the ankles) and a red hair band.
Cinderella – Cinderella (1950)
This classic Disney princess wears a flowing light blue gown with long white gloves. An important distinguishing characteristic (to tell her apart from Sleeping Beauty, for example) is that her reddish (sometimes blond) hair is piled up high on her head, held in place with a white hairband. She’s also the only princess wearing a black choker around her neck.
Aurora – Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Much to parents’ despair, Aurora or Sleeping Beauty is drawn in the tradition of Cinderella and overall quite similar to her. Yet, Aurora’s flowing gown has a darker shade of blue and full sleeves. As strict as Cinderella’s hair was kept in place, as free-flowing and blond is Sleeping Beauty’s. She’s also the only princess to wear a crown – a golden one too.
Ariel – The Little Mermaid (1989)
Ariel might be the Disney princess most easy to identify thanks to her flowing, long red hair. Even easier when she is depicted with her turquoise mermaid’s tail and purple bikini top. In human form, she wears a light pink dress with long puff sleeves. She wears no necklace, hair band or crown but small pink clips in her hair and white hanging earrings. Ariel also marks the advent of Disney princesses with a mind of their own.
Belle – Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Being closely released after Ariel, Belle is very much sketched in her tradition. Yet, Belle’s long brown hair and yellow, strapless gown with long yellow gloves are distinguishing features. She also wears yellow button earrings and part of her hair tied up with a yellow hair band, with one lock usually falling in front.
Jasmine – Aladdin (1992)
With Jasmine, we got the first princess not looking like an advertisement for a fairness cream. Jasmine’s a dark-haired, exotic beauty straight out of Arabian Nights. She usually wears harem pants in turquoise matched by a tiny top whose straps playfully fall over her shoulders. The ensemble is completed by a turquoise hair band with a giant gem stone and otherwise massive bling – huge golden earrings with a necklace to die for.
Pocahontas – Pocahontas (1995)
Inching ever further away from the fair ideal, with Pocahontas, Disney gave us the first Native American and until then, the darkest skinned princess with proud features. Just like her, the free-flowing, long black hair is held in place by nothing and no one. She wears a simple, fairly short, beige dress with one shoulder strap. Completed is her outfit by a thick, dark turquoise necklace with a huge gem stone.
Mulan – Mulan (1998)
Mulan, the Chinese warrior princess, marks Disney’s foray into Asian territory. Thus, she wears a long-sleeved, light pink and red kimono-style dress with a blue and red belt. Her absolutely straight black hair is held in place behind one ear with a white flower. She wears no jewelry or other accessories.
Tiana – The Princess and the Frog (2009)
It took Disney almost 60 years to come out with the first black princess, but finally, we got her. Tiana’s strapless gown is light green and off white; its style reminding one of delicate leaves sewn together. She wears long, light green gloves and a crystal necklace. Her black hair is pulled into a tight bun that leaves only one lock showing behind her ear. Banking on our memory challenge, her creators gave us another clue by calling the only tiara-wearing princess Tiana.
Rapunzel – Tangled (2010)
Last but surely not for long, we have Rapunzel in the renamed movie Tangled. Easy to make out by her meter long blond hair that looks slightly unkempt, she peers at us out of huge green eyes. Wearing a purple dress with puff sleeves, Rapunzel has tucked a purple flower behind her ear.
Doubtlessly, when it comes to a Who’s Who of Disney characters, in most nurseries, the princesses rank high on top and distinguishing them becomes a sport the tiny tots engage in as soon as they can utter their first words. Following the clues in this description of Disney princesses, parents will finally know exactly who their kids are talking about. A tip at the end: If the dresses change, just look at the hairstyles and accessories, they usually don’t!
Simone Preuss - Simone is a freelance writer, editor and translator who decided to go solo after a successful career in publishing. That was more than ...
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