Why We Love Disney’s First Plus-Sized Lead Character

Disney recently introduced its first plus-size heroine in Reflect. A ballerina named Bianca struggles to find confidence and manage her body dysmorphia.

In this day and age, it’s so important to emphasize body diversity. This is one way to show little girls that our bodies come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. And that being skinny or white doesn’t make you look better than others. This is why we love how Disney recently introduced its first plus-sized lead character in Bianca, a ballerina who struggles to find confidence and manage her body dysmorphia.

According to the Mayo Clinic, body dysmorphia is a mental health condition where you can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance. Most of the time, it’s a flaw that appears minor or that others can’t even see.

Reflect: A heartfelt representation

“Reflect” is part of Disney’s “Short Circuit” series, which includes various experimental short films. Since the announcement, many fans looked forward to seeing them, especially Reflect. This is because the complex yet heartfelt representation of the real-life pressures that young women must navigate is somewhat groundbreaking for Disney. After all, Disney often depicts plus-size characters as extras or even villains. Meanwhile, princesses and heroines are usually thin. However, we’ve seen a shift with the introduction of characters like Moana and “Encanto” siblings Luisa and Mirabel—all of whom have more realistic and diverse body types.

Teach little girls to love their bodies

Studies show that young girls as early as six years old start to feel conscious about their bodies and feel the need to be skinny. In the Philippines, we’re also conditioned to think that having fairer skin equates to being more beautiful. But that is slowly changing—especially with big media conglomerates like Disney showing more representation and diversity. This helps empower both mothers and daughters to feel confident in the body that they’re in. Moreover, representation like Bianca plays a significant role in child development and growth. It helps children to understand the reality they live in, and gives them the opportunity to develop empathy and respect for a variety of differences.

Find more stories that empower little girls on Modern Parenting:

How To Raise A Little Girl To Be an Empowered Lady

This Children’s Book on Body Positivity Helps Empower Little Girls

Lia Andrea Ramos: Girl Boss and Mom with a Mission to Empower