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.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/53cc8bfcda17988fa3580a63292aefb8e4a107ee9ad76a65621b69fe55c07d04.jpg)
2. Judy Hopps
Being the first anything is impressive. But it also comes with a rather large number of hurdles. Fortunately, bunnies are well equipped for hurdles – particularly Judy Hopps. She knew how hard it would be to become Zootopia’s first bunny cop, and nevertheless, she persisted.
She was tormented as a kid, and yet, she stuck up for the little guy. She got her friends’ tickets back from Gideon Grey, even though it meant getting dangerously close to him. She pursued her dreams, even when her parents clearly didn’t support her. She had her own Captain Marvel moment, as she continued to stand up every time she fell at the police academy.
It can’t be overlooked that she had some problematic tendencies though. As kind and gentle as she was, and as much as she truly believed that “In Zootopia, anyone can be anything,” Judy Hopps still had an inherent prejudice. She didn’t want to be distrusting of Nick Wilde, but she still carried her fox repellent.
What makes Judy a true hero though, is that she actively worked to overcome her prejudices. When Nick Wilde calls her out for them, she’s naturally defensive, but eventually owns up to her actions. She admits that she was wrong, and sincerely apologizes.
Judy Hopps is some-bunny we need more people to be like in the world.