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• 1 media/6502707419_94cc9e7c90_b.jpg 2017-12-03T22:00:09-08:00 Where is the Latinx Princess? 26 image_header 2018-01-04T17:23:55-08:00

  Whenever you look at a picture of the cast of Princesses from the mainstream Disney princess movies, you will notice that one major identity is not represented… a Latinx Princess. In one of its promotional videos, Disney claims that “for every girl who dreams big there is a princess to show her that it is possible,” but what does it say to a little girl if she looks at all of the marketed Disney Princesses and none of them are proud role models representing her heritage, traditions, and culture? This lack of representation has the ability to make a little girl feel like she and her culture are not as important as those girls who do feel represented by a Disney princess. As one might recall, it was not until December 11, 2009 that Disney came out with its first film featuring an African American princess, Tiana in The Princess and the Frog. The movie became a major hit when little African American girls could finally dress up as someone who looked like them. While Disney still needs to further diversify its list of Disney Princess movies, it seems like they have begun to fill the void with their newest tv show Elena of Avalor.

  As a new princess featured on Disney Junior, Elena is the first Latina Disney princess to receive her own show. After speculation about whether or not Sofia from the Disney Junior show Sofia the First was also supposed to be Latina, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) got involved to make sure that the writers who ended up writing Elena would in the future aim to create authentic Latino/a and Latinx characters (USA Today). Whether or not Disney had been working on Elena before the NHMC got involved is unknown, but it shows that they are following through on their commitment“to foster a rich diversity of voices, perspectives and experiences—both on screen and among our workforce.” The producers and writers of the show attempt to authenticate Elena’s latinidad by incorporating a Latinx cast and staff who they believe bring their own definitions of what latinidad means to them to the roles. As scene in the theme song video below,

  Sadly, the show uses mostly stereotypes and readily recognizable elements to try and authenticate Elena’s latinidad, seen in its use of festive latin based music, vibrant landscapes, settings, costumes and incorporation of traditional celebrations such as quinceañeras, Navidad, Día de los Muertos, etc. These holidays are evidence of Disney’s attempt to integrate cultural traditions with quinceañeras that trace back to the Aztecs, Día de los Muertos which is a traditional Mexican holiday and Navidad originating in Europe. In contrast, other elements of the show do not appropriately represent the Latinx identity. For example, the design of the geographical and architectural landscapes that resemble somewhere off the coast of Europe rather than Latin America. At the end, Elena of Avalor portrays a confusing mixture of traditional features with some Latinx stereotypical elements sprinkled here and there.

  Latinx identity is multifaceted and these stereotypical portrayals of the characters, based mostly on commercialized elements of the culture such as particular celebrations, can cause children to have a “single story view” of Latinx culture. Aimee Carrero, the Dominican American actress who voices Elena was quoted saying "Disney's been in my family for a very long time and just to see my own images represented, my own culture represented, is really special and I hope it will be for everybody watching." In contrast, a Latinx mother, Martha Flores Pérez points out in her article “ 'Elena of Avalor': Disney’s Latest Misguided Attempt to Diversify” that

  “Sadly, Elena of Avalor fails to acknowledge that America’s Latinx culture is different than Latin American culture. Even though our ancestors may come from Latin America, our realities as Latinxs in the U.S. are distinct. That is something to embrace and that is why Disney’s use of “Latin-inspired” stands for a mispronunciation of an entire group of people.”   

  Hopefully Disney will see this type of response and work towards creating an animated show centered around the lives of Latinx individuals here in the United States Even though Elena has been a hit show among children, Monica Castillo emphasizes in her article “A Latina Disney Movie Princess? The Wait Isn’t Over” that  “The issue of diversity in movies for young people is just as important as pushing for inclusion across Hollywood, both behind, and in front of, the camera.” She also brings to light an important issue that Disney fails to address with Elena when she talks about her sister:

  “My sister ended up working for a few months this year as a performer at one of Disney’s theme parks. After several frustrating auditions, she was told she was too dark to play any character not covered in fur. She tried out to greet guests as Elena of Avalor, and she received the same answer: too dark. (She ended up playing characters while fully covered in costumes.) Not even as an adult does she fit in Disney’s kingdom. But I’m hoping that those days are numbered, and that she and other women and girls like her will never have to feel as if they didn’t belong in the Happiest Place on Earth.”

  While it is great that Disney has given Elena the spotlight with this show, she is not held to the same caliber as the other timelessly classic Disney Princesses Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, ect... used for the mainstream Disney marketing advertisement. Elena is like a temporary “visiting” princess who could fade away when another show becomes popular. Nevertheless, the show is a step in the right direction and gives hope that sooner rather than later we will get to see a twelfth princess parading across the screen as a permanent member of the Disney Princess court.