Through its movies, Disney has introduced hundreds of characters that have served as inspiration for children and teenagers around the world. Many of them turned into fan favorites, prompting audiences to watch all their movies and purchase all their merchandise. Probably the most popular group of Disney characters are princesses. Just by taking a look at their stories compared to the era in which the movies were released, we can clearly appreciate an evolution that now positions princesses as the heroines of their own stories, who no longer need a male figure as their savior.
Currently, the official list of Disney princesses consists of 13 characters: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana, and Raya. To be deemed an official Disney princess, a character must meet certain rules, such as having a central role in a Disney film, being human or humanoid in appearance, and being a member of royalty, either by birth or marriage. That, of course, excludes the vast majority of Disney’s other female characters from the list. But even though they are not members of this elite group, many of them have become, over the years, huge favorites among audiences. Check out some of the best women characters in Disney who were never granted an official princess title.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
10 Charlotte la Bouff
Walt Disney Studios
Charlotte la Bouff, better known as Lottie, is a supporting character in the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog. She is Tiana’s best friend, and the daughter of Big Daddy La Bouff, a man with lots and lots of money. As Lottie has been raised in a family that spoiled her, she can be a bit shallow in some ways. But this young girl is dreamy, generous, and most of all, an excellent friend: she doesn’t hesitate to support Tiana through everything, even when she finds out that she is going to marry Prince Naveen, something Lottie dreamed of.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 Nala
Walt Disney Pictures
Nala is first featured in the 1994 film The Lion King, but also appears in other films and series of the franchise. This is one of those characters that the audience got to know as a child, so it was possible to see her personality evolve. As a cub, Simba’s best friend was energetic, fun-loving and adventurous. As she grew older, she gradually became more cautious, but never lost her venturesome nature. Eventually, Nala and Simba’s friendship evolved into a romantic relationship, which led to them marrying and having three children.
8 Dot
Disney/Pixar
In A Bug’s Life, Dot is the younger sister of Atta, a nervous ant who is training to rule the colony. This playful little ant is the smallest in the colony, and is generally underestimated by all the others. Dot is eager to fly so that she can show everyone all the things she can do, but she is still too small to do so. Still, she doesn’t need to fly to prove her power: Dot is constantly assisting Flik, the other misunderstood member of the colony, and thanks to his help she manages to overcome her fear of Hopper.
7 Alice
Walt Disney Productions
Alice is one of the characters on this list that is most often associated with the original Disney princesses, even though she is not. The star of Alice in Wonderland is among the company’s most dreamy and curious characters. In fact, her tale would not have taken place had it not been for her endless curiosity to follow a white rabbit. Alice is imaginative, adventurous and driven, and thanks to her family she is also a well-behaved young girl capable of handling any situation. However, with all that is going on in Wonderland, she has a very hard time keeping her composure.
6 Vanellope von Schweetz
Vanellope von Schweetz is one of the main characters in Wreck-It Ralph and its sequel. This young girl is a racer in the video game Sugar Rush, but gets teased by others because she has a glitch that hampers her from winning races. However, she doesn’t let that define her, and spends her days improving her skills. Eventually, she meets Ralph, and the two strike up a beautiful friendship. By the end of the movie, it is revealed that Vanellope is actually the original princess of the Sugar Rush kingdom, but she decides not to accept the title and declares herself President of Sugar Rush. One funny thing about Vanellope is that, in the sequel, she is featured in a very funny scene with some of Disney’s most important princesses, who acknowledge her as one of their own.
5 Megara
Megara is a major character in the 1997 film Hercules. She is portrayed as a beautiful and striking young woman with an edgy sense of humor, and is momentarily enslaved by Hades, the god of the underworld. He entrusts Megara to find out Hades’ weaknesses, but she ends up falling in love with him. This young girl has several features that could place her among the official princesses of the company, such as her stunning beauty and her ability to sing, but she never earned the title.
4 Jessie
The Toy Story franchise is filled with beloved characters. One of them is Jessie, the cowgirl doll introduced in Toy Story 2. Jessie is cheerful, energetic, and loving, but being in storage for so many years and being abandoned by Emily scarred her soul. She has a hard time trusting people and toys because she fears they will betray her or, worse, abandon her again. Despite this, Jessie is optimistic, always ready for an adventure, and following a great personal journey, she now understands and honors her purpose in life: to join children in their games.
3 Mirabel
Encanto is a groundbreaking film in many ways, from its cultural representation to the way it explores family dynamics. The main character in this 2021 production is Mirabel, the only member of a magical family who did not receive any gifts. She does not let that discourage her: Mirabel is cheerful, optimistic and loving, willing to do anything to help her family and her people. However, she often feels insecure and excluded from her family, especially because of her grandmother’s attitude, as she is very hard on her. In spite of everything, Mirabel’s courage and the love she feels for the Encanto encourages her to venture into the most difficult challenges, such as restoring the magic of the village.
2 Lilo
Lilo is one of Disney’s most iconic characters, and considering that her movie, Lilo & Stitch, came out in 2002, she is way ahead of her time. She is also a girl who is dealing with too many things for her young age. After her parents passed away, Lilo was left in the care of Nani, her responsible older sister who goes to great lengths to give her a good life. However, Lilo makes it a bit difficult for her: she is a bit rebellious, energetic and tends to get herself in trouble. Her unique personality makes the other girls her age misunderstand her, while making her the perfect friend for Stitch. Lilo is smart, sensitive, and enjoys rather odd hobbies, such as taking pictures of tourists and feeding sandwiches to a little fish named Pudge.
1 Minnie Mouse
Disney-ABC Domestic Television
Minnie Mouse is, beyond any doubt, Disney’s most popular and important female character. She is also one of the oldest: Minnie has represented the company since 1928. Although she was originally designed to be Mickey’s love interest, she eventually evolved into a character with a sparkle of her own, known for being feminine, classy and optimistic. Moreover, she is an excellent friend and constantly looking out for what other people need. She normally appears in her iconic polka dot dress, head bow and high heels.
