This week we mourned the loss of comedy writer, producer and director Garry Marshall. Many stars had touching tributes to the 81-year-old legend who was a faithful father and loving grandfather as well as a wonderful filmmaker. If you grew up in the early 2000s, you know his work through movies like "Pretty Woman" and "Valentine’s Day"—but if you’re me, you know him best through his work on "The Princess Diaries," a film that came out when I was six years old and has been re-watched multiple times a year ever since. In honor of Garry and this classic tale about a very different Disney princess that made us all hope that we were secretly royalty of Genovia, here are 16 lessons I have learned from Mia Thermopolis, Lilly Moscovitz, Joseph and Queen Clarisse.
1. If you're nervous, just don’t look at the people
"Remember. It's just speech class."
2. This is as good as it’s gonna get
Keep psyching yourself up in the mirror anyways...
3. Go to tea with your long-lost grandma (especially if it’s Julie Andrews)
Remind me again why Julie isn't eligible to be the next Queen?
4. That boy who keeps yachting magazines in his locker is no good.
It's a lie and your foot didn't pop!
5. When you make a promise, keep it
6. Apologize, even if it takes an M&M message on a pizza
7. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent
8. Take a day off in San Francisco
Even when your anxiety level is "Princess-Mia-driving-the-'Stang"
9. Your foot won’t pop unless it’s true love
10. Find the Joseph in your life and keep him close
11. If they see you when you thought you were invisible, date them (especially if it’s Michael Moscovitz)
Make sure he knows he's not "royally flushed."
12. What makes you different makes you beautiful
*cue 2001 Backstreet Boys
13. Don’t run away from the “problems” that just might be your calling
You might end up stuck in a broken-down Mustang convertible during a storm while trying to get to the Royal Ball
14. Your voice and position is important: use it
"'Wow' is having the power to affect change, to make people listen."
15. You are a princess, no matter how frizzy your hair might be
16. Dance to “Miracles Happen” and gain 10x more confidence than four minutes before
Whatever happened to Myra? She had a great denim jacket...
