Disney Princess' makeover sparks online outrage

This is turning out to be a messy makeover for a Disney princess.

 

Days before she was to be crowned as Disney's 11th princess, Merida —the heroine in Disney's "Brave"— got a makeover that did not quite sit well with fans.

 

An online petition was started on Change.org, scoring the redesign of Merida from a princess who "looked like a real girl, complete with the 'imperfections' that all people have," to a "skinnier, sexier and more mature" appearance.

 

"The redesign of Merida in advance of her official induction to the Disney Princess collection does a tremendous disservice to the millions of children for whom Merida is an empowering role model who speaks to girls' capacity to be change agents in the world rather than just trophies to be admired. Moreover, by making her skinnier, sexier and more mature in appearance, you are sending a message to girls that the original, realistic, teenage-appearing version of Merida is inferior; that for girls and women to have value -- to be recognized as true princesses -- they must conform to a narrow definition of beauty," said the petition on Change.org.

 

It added the new Merida is a "paler reflection of her former self without the spark and the 'you go girl' quality that her creator intended."

 

The petition by "A Mighty Girl" was directed at Robert Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

 

"We write to you on behalf of all the young girls who embraced Merida as a role model, who learned from her that they too could go off on an adventure and save the day; that it's not how you look that matters but who you are. For them and for all the children -- both girls and boys -- who benefit from seeing depictions of strong, courageous, and independent-minded girls and women that are so scarce in animated movies, we ask you to return to the original Merida that we all know and love. We ask you to keep Merida Brave!" the petition said.

 

A separate report on The Huffington Post said Merida's makeover had made her thinner, and her eyes wider.

 

Quoting HuffPost blogger Kristen Howerton, it added "Brave" may be considered as the first feminist princess movie because Merida "does not pine for a prince to come to her rescue, and solves her own problems without the aid of a suitor."

 

Howerton added Merida was independent, had a realistic body type, and succeeded without a Prince Charming. — TJD, GMA News