The way she is least like your typical Disney princess is the well-developed presence of a strong, loving (if sometimes overbearing) mother in her life, as well as parents in a clearly loving marriage of mutual respect. The way Merida is least like the archetypical teenage girl is her lack of “boycraziness.” And no, I doubt she is a lesbian as some have theorized, though she could be, because the character is refreshingly asexual, the way most of us hope our teenage girls will largely be at that age – focused on family and growing up. She exhibits moments of very mature, responsible behavior along with extreme selfishness and disregard for consequences to others. She loves and wants to please her parents but wishes to be free of the influence of a loving but controlling mother. She is shaped like a typical teenager (at least one who doesn’t starve herself). Merida is in many ways a “typical teenager” who just happens to be a princess.

This is an awful lot of pressure to put on one small character, but such as it is, I’d say she fits the bill nicely. As the movie approached, there was much discussion about whether Merida would finally be a “princess role model” that parents could get behind for their girls. Writers like Peggy Orenstein, in her excellent book, “Cinderella Ate My Daughter” have written about the effect of princess culture on young girls and hundreds of articles have been written on this topic. For my review of the movie overall, see A Mom Reviews Disney/Pixar's Movie, “Brave” While past princesses have had some lovely qualities (Belle is quite the reader, for example), overall their lives and stories are largely “prince-centric” and their looks promote questionable body image for girls. Like Moana, Nontra Null's grandmother played a huge role in shaping her life path, helping to nurture her artistic side, so she pays tribute to that connection in this doll's bold, breathtaking design.Every time a new Disney princess movie is released parents wonder what sort example the newest obsession will set for our young girls.

The Disney Designer Collection is proud to introduce the Ultimate Princess Celebration, a limited edition series of dolls carefully crafted by artists across The Walt Disney Company.

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