Forget flouncy dresses, damsels in distress, and a handsome prince who saves the day- Moana is Disney's newest release, and the movie is anything but ordinary. While the movie is about a daring, young Polynesian girl, destined to be the next leader of her people, Moana makes it very clear that she is no princess. Her bravery to fight for her own life, and her courage to stand with her people and do what is right, blows all other Disney princess out of the water (pun intended). Moana is, by far, the greatest role model Disney has ever produced, and here's why:
1. She respects her parents.
Even though Moana longs for a life out on the sea, she still respects her parent's wishes to be the chief of her people, on their island of Motu Nui. She listens to them and wants to do right by them, and when she does something that ultimately goes against their orders, she does it for all the right reasons.
2. She has her own aspirations
Even though she has accepted she must become the chief of Motu Nui, she also dreams of going beyond the reef and exploring the sea. She doesn't let her duty to her people diminish the dream she has for her life.
3. She respects her elders
It does help that she has a totally kick-a** grandma.
4. She's courageous
She knows her journey will be difficult, especially after the loss (spoiler alert) she's been through, and she knows how dangerous it will be. However, she also knows that her island and her people will die if she does not go, so she sets off to save her island.
5. She's selfless
Even though she loves the sea, and wants to explore it more than anything else, she sets that aside to become Chief. She wants to make her father proud, and she wants to help her people, so she sets aside her own desires to do so.
6. She doesn't need a prince to help her
Even though she does have a demi-god to help her out along the way, he's so full of himself that she does most of the work anyway. In the end, Moana is the one who saves the day and proves that no girl has to be a damsel in distress waiting for a prince to come alone.
For all these reasons, and so many more that people will see when they watch Moana, this new Disney hero should really be the "princess" to admire, and aspire to be.
