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)
14. Elsa
For the most part, Frozen starts out as your average Disney fairytale. Princess experiences childhood trauma; princess has her memories erased; princess spends years cooped up in a castle not really knowing why; and then princess meets prince and falls in love. It’s all very formulaic.
But then along came the queen we’ve always needed: Elsa. And with her, came the most necessary – and oddly meta – words ever spoken to a Disney princess, “You can’t marry a man you just met.”
Granted, Elsa is not awesome at dealing with her own conflicts. Unintentionally casting an eternal winter over Arendelle and running off to build a castle in a mountain (complete with an ice monster as a guard) doesn’t scream level-headed, but her intentions are good.
Elsa just wants to finally be able to embrace every part of herself openly, without worrying that she’ll hurt someone. As much as every parent in the world probably hated how many times they had to listen to “Let It Go,” there’s no denying that it was a powerful anthem about being yourself.
And of course, it has to be pointed out that Elsa is one of the few Queens in Disney’s catalogue, rather than a princess. With Frozen 2 so close to being released, it’s exciting to think about what’s next for our favorite Snow Queen.