Disney’s ‘Dream Big Princess’ photo series challenges the princess stereotype

Disney is using a new photo series to turn the traditional idea of a “princess” on its head. The #DreamBigPrincess campaign, a team effort between Disney and Girl Up, a United Nations foundation that aims to empower young girls, features work from photographers around the world who identify as women.

The photos show everyday girls and women embodying the characteristics associated with their favorite Disney princesses: strength, ambition, passion, courage, boldness. The girls pictured include a soccer player, coder, teen adviser and paralympic gold medalist, and their determination is contagious.

“The idea that stories, whether real life or fictional like those of Belle or Rapunzel, can inspire kids to follow their dreams is at the heart of the #DreamBigPrincess campaign,” Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, said in a press release. “We asked some of the most accomplished female photographers to help tell the stories of inspiring women and girls from around the world—and the results are incredible.”

Disney first launched the #DreamBigPrincess campaign last year with this inspiring video that contrasted Disney princesses with real-life girls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYcGSeXiUI8

The continuation of the campaign now takes the entire project a step further.

Take a look below at some of the beautiful shots captured by photographers for the #DreamBigPrincess campaign this year, starting with photographer Kate Parker’s shot of a young soccer player:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX3BTtRlE9l/?tagged=dreambigprincess

Paula Bronstein took beautiful photos of the 23-year-old woman who launched Afghanistan’s first official women’s bike team:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX2WPa9B-hz/?taken-by=pbbphoto

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX0qjpNh64K/?taken-by=pbbphoto

Cristina Mittermeier captured the joy of a young First Nations singer, songwriter, drummer and activist:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX23J83lWy5/?taken-by=cristinamittermeier

Luisa Dorr took a picture of an 11-year-old girl who dreams of becoming Brazil’s first female world champion surfer:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX0VvSUB8xw/?taken-by=luisadorr

Theresa Balderas perfectly captured the joy of an adopted Mexican girl after she spent two years in an orphanage:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX214JRgm23/?taken-by=theresabalderas

From now until Oct. 11, Disney will donate $1 for every post that tags #DreamBigPrincess on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, and will donate $1 for every “like” a #DreamBigPrincess post gets, for a maximum donation of $1 million. So go check out and like all the inspiring #DreamBigPrincess posts out there, then post a few of your own!