Disney princesses have been inspiring children for decades — but some fans argue that they don’t represent everyone.
That’s why influencer Natasha Polis created the Plus-Size Princess Project. Over the course of three months, she gathered a group of plus-size influencers to create a photo series that shows women with larger bodies portraying classic princesses. She also made sure to include non-princess characters to ensure she could work with a diverse cast.
Speaking to Insider, Polis shared what it was like to work on the project, the obstacles they faced, and what she hopes people take away from the photos.
Natasha Polis created the Plus-Size Princess Project.
Speaking to Insider, Polis said Disney became „embedded” into her life while growing up in Orange County and frequenting Disneyland. Now, she works as an influencer who often makes fashion and Disney-themed content for more than 77,000 followers on Instagram.
„I love to emphasize plus-size fashion and show characters in larger bodies,” Polis said. „I really wanted to create a project that would show people that we want inclusivity and diversity in our Disney princesses, and that we can do it — regardless of body shape, size, skin color, or background.”
The first person Polis contacted was Hunter McGrady — a model known for her appearances in Sports Illustrated and The Knot.
Polis said she „was pumped” as soon as Hunter agreed to participate and pose as Elsa from „Frozen.”
„How amazing would it have been to see a plus-size princess growing up?” Hunter wrote on Instagram. „It’s incredible how much is ingrained in us at such a young age.”
„The princesses I grew up seeing were all thin and white and for the most part saved by a man,” she continued. „I hope we continue to see growth in this area so that one day when I have children no matter their size, they see representation.”
Other women featured in the Plus-Size Princess Project are fashion and Disney influencers.
Instead of asking influencers to dress only as Disney princesses like Snow White and Cinderella, Polis decided to feature a wide range of the company’s female characters so that she could work with a more diverse cast.
One of those characters is Kida from „Atlantis,” portrayed in the Plus-Size Princess Project by Adriana of @bibbidibobbidi_broke.
„Kida was always one of my favorite characters,” the influencer wrote on Instagram. „Before we had a Black princess, we only had brown (Pocahontas, Jasmine, Mulan) or racially-ambiguous ones like Kida. Kida’s race has always been up for debate, but seeing that Cree Summer plays her voice, I think you know what I think she is!”
Polis originally wanted costumes to look as accurate as possible.
„I started reaching out to people in August because I wanted them to have time to make or buy their own costumes,” Polis said. „I laid out these guidelines for them and said, ‘We want this to be as accurate as possible. If you need my help finding costumes, reach out to me.”
One person who looked identical to her character is Zoie of @curvesbyzo_, who dressed as Moana.
Some influencers, like Michaela McGrady, did just that.
McGrady (@michaelamcgrady) looked just like Anna from „Frozen” with braided red hair and a pink cape.
„Growing up with Disney so near and dear to my heart, I know how life-changing it would have been for all of us to see princesses of different sizes, shapes, and skin tones grace the screen,” she wrote on Instagram. „Anna has always been one of my all-time favorite princesses (Queen!) and I had such a blast recreating this with my sissy @huntermcgrady.”
So did the influencer who dressed as Megara from „Hercules.”
Alysse Dalessandro Santiago, who goes by @readytostare on Instagram, was one of the first influencers Polis reached out to because she „loves Disney” and is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
„I’m Megara from Hercules,” Santiago wrote on Instagram. „She’s independent, sarcastic, strong, an agent of her own fate, takes no nonsense, and has a really great ponytail!!!!!”
Unfortunately, some influencers had difficulty finding accurate costumes in their sizes.
„I think a lot of girls were thinking it was going to be easy to find a costume, but with my experience as a plus-size person, trying to find princess dresses in my size that don’t look cheap and not cute, it’s a difficult search,” Polis said.
„It ended up being that people were choosing costumes or outfits based on their own style instead of being accurate,” she continued, adding that many women decided to DisneyBound, or dress in an everyday outfit that channels the essence of a Disney character.
Rosey Blair, who goes by @roseybeeme on Instagram, did so when she wore a blue, printed sundress to pose as Cinderella. She also wore her hair in the princess’ signature style, and donned a black choker necklace.
One influencer even decided to exit the project because she couldn’t find a costume that worked for her body.
An influencer who was set to pose as Ariel exited the project because „she was so frustrated” that her outfit didn’t fit, according to Polis.
„I know that feeling so well, and I was like, ‘I’m so sorry,’” Polis said. „I wish I could’ve helped her earlier and found something that worked for her and her body. So there were a lot of emotions and frustrations.”
Luckily, Becca Ashmon (@beccaashmon) stepped in to pose as the mermaid-princess. She wore a DisneyBound athleisure outfit for the photo, and said on Instagram that she’s passionate about the character because „racism JUMPED out” when Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in an upcoming live-action film.
„They said a half-fish half-woman couldn’t be black 🥴,” the influencer wrote on Instagram. „So please catch me in my fantasy!