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15 most empowering female Disney characters of all time

By Andi Ortiz

Magical and larger than life, Elsa is the perfect mythic character—but she can’t help but wonder why she was born with powers. What truths about the past await Elsa as she ventures into the unknown to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle? Featuring Idina Menzel as the voice of Elsa, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2” opens on Nov. 22, 2019. © 2019 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Magical and larger than life, Elsa is the perfect mythic character—but she can’t help but wonder why she was born with powers. What truths about the past await Elsa as she ventures into the unknown to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle? Featuring Idina Menzel as the voice of Elsa, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2” opens on Nov. 22, 2019. © 2019 Disney. All Rights Reserved. /
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Disney characters
SELFIE! – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” Vanellope von Schweetz hits the internet where she encounters and then befriends the Disney princesses. Filmmakers invited the original voice talent to return to the studio to help bring their characters to life, including Sarah Silverman (Vanellope in “Ralph Breaks the Internet”), Auli‘i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Idina Menzel (Elsa in “Frozen”), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Ming-Na Wen (“Mulan”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”), and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”). ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved. /

From princesses to superheroes to big sisters, there are some pretty boss women in the world of Disney animation. These 15 Disney characters are some of the best.

When you think “empowering female character” it’s kind of hard to not think of at least one Disney princess. Sure, some of them might be a little old school, and have poor decision-making skills – yes, I’m lookin’ at you, Ariel – but a good many more of them are exactly the role models we need in life.

They’re caring and kind, but also know exactly what they want and how they’re going to go about getting it.

Of course, not every woman of Disney is a princess. There are a few Queens tossed in here and there – though there aren’t nearly as many as there should be – but a lot of them aren’t even royalty. They’re warriors, or cops, or chefs. They’re literally anything they want to be.

And as the years have gone on, Disney has only gotten better at writing these female Disney characters’ stories. More and more, we see these women exemplifying the traits that we should be teaching young girls; things like confidence, independence, and more.

These characters are more than just the “strong female character” trope. They’re well-rounded women that we need to see more of on-screen. And they definitely don’t get enough credit. So, we’re working to remedy that a bit.

We’ve rounded up Disney’s most inspiring and fierce female characters, al in one spot. Here are 15 of Disney’s most empowering female characters of all time.

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