Each Disney Princess uniquely inspires girls and women—truly everyone—to envision brighter futures for themselves and their communities. Although earlier Disney Princesses sometimes conveyed questionable messages and stereotypes, Disney has actively evolved its portrayal of these characters to better celebrate their diverse cultures and identities.
Disney Princesses possess a rich variety of personalities that shape how they confront challenges and support others. Each one serves as a role model for fans of all ages, making it a challenge to crown a single "best" princess.
Nevertheless, we took on the challenge. At IGN, we've selected our top 10 Disney Princesses from the official roster of 13. We apologize to the three enchanting—and equally wonderful—princesses who didn't make the cut; it was no easy decision!
So, without further delay, here are IGN's picks for the 10 best Disney Princesses.
Best Disney Princesses
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10. Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)
For most of Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora lives in a secluded forest cottage with the Three Good Fairies—Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather—who call her Briar Rose to shield her from Maleficent. The villain curses Aurora to die after she pricks her finger on a spinning wheel spindle before her 16th birthday ends. Despite the fairies' efforts to protect her, Aurora is hypnotized upon returning to her castle and made to fulfill the curse—though Merryweather's blessing transforms death into an enchanted sleep, broken only by true love’s kiss.
Aurora is celebrated for her grace and beauty, but she is also imaginative and hopeful, often sharing her dreams with her forest friends. In recent years, however, some critics have questioned her story’s reliance on a curse broken solely by romantic love.
9. Moana
As the daughter of Motunui’s chief, Moana never aspired to find a prince or seek rescue. Even as an infant, the ocean chose her to restore the heart of Te Fiti, the Polynesian goddess of nature. When a darkness unleashed by Te Kā threatens her island, teenage Moana courageously sets sail. She recruits the shapeshifting demigod Maui—who originally stole Te Fiti’s heart—to help her on her quest. Ultimately, Moana realizes that Te Kā is a corrupted Te Fiti, and by returning the heart, she heals the goddess and saves her home.
Though she accepts help from a demigod, Moana is widely praised for her independence, bravery, and relentless determination—qualities that define a strong, modern heroine. Her voice actor, Auliʻi Cravalho, described Moana as a role model for all. We look forward to seeing Catherine Laga'aia embody Moana’s spirit in the upcoming live-action adaptation.
8. Cinderella
After her father’s death, Cinderella is forced into servitude by her cruel stepmother and stepsisters. Despite their mistreatment, she remains gentle and kind, caring for the household’s mice and birds—especially Jaq and Gus, whom she protects from the cat Lucifer. When forbidden from attending the royal ball, Cinderella receives magical assistance from her Fairy Godmother, who provides a stunning gown and glass slippers. Although the spell breaks at midnight, Cinderella leaves behind a single slipper, which ultimately proves her identity to the Prince and changes her fate.
Early critics viewed Cinderella as passive, but she is far from helpless: she enlists her animal friends to free her when locked away. Her iconic ballgown and glass slippers have made her a style inspiration. Interestingly, Disney changed her dress color from silver to light blue for children’s costumes to avoid associations with bridal wear.
7. Ariel (The Little Mermaid)
Ariel epitomizes teenage rebellion, yearning to experience the human world despite her father King Triton’s strict rules. She fills a secret grotto with human treasures and rescues Prince Eric from a shipwreck, instantly falling for him. To pursue love, she strikes a deal with the sea witch Ursula, trading her voice for legs under the condition that she receive Eric’s kiss within three days. When Ursula’s true plan to seize Triton’s trident is revealed, Ariel teams up with Eric and her friends to defeat the witch and reclaim her voice.
In the sequel, The Little Mermaid: Return to the Sea, Ariel becomes a mother to Melody, who dreams of life under the sea—making Ariel the first Disney Princess to have a child.
6. Tiana (The Princess and the Frog)
Tiana, a pragmatic and hardworking young woman in 1920s New Orleans, works two jobs to save enough money to open her own restaurant—a dream she shared with her late father. Her life takes a magical turn when she kisses Prince Naveen, who has been turned into a frog by the voodoo sorcerer Dr. Facilier. Instead of breaking the spell, she becomes a frog herself. On their journey to regain human form, Tiana teaches Naveen responsibility and self-reliance. She ultimately rejects Facilier’s deceptive offer of a magically granted dream, choosing honesty and hard work instead.
Tiana is celebrated as Disney’s first African American princess and a feminist entrepreneur who never gives up on her ambitions.
5. Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
Belle is a bright, independent young woman who longs for adventure beyond her provincial village. When her father is taken prisoner by the Beast, she selflessly offers herself in his place. Over time, she learns of the enchantment that turned the prince into a beast and his servants into household objects—a curse that can only be broken by true love. Despite the Beast’s fearsome appearance, Belle sees his inner goodness and confesses her love just in time to restore his humanity.
Belle broke the traditional princess mold by valuing intelligence and curiosity over romance. Her screenwriter, Linda Woolverton, crafted her as a feminist icon—a woman who refuses to marry for appearance alone, as shown by her repeated rejections of the arrogant Gaston.
4. Rapunzel (Tangled)
For 18 years, Rapunzel is confined to a hidden tower by Mother Gothel, who uses the magical healing properties of Rapunzel’s long hair to maintain her youth. When the thief Flynn Rider (real name Eugene) stumbles into her tower, Rapunzel seizes the chance to finally see the floating lanterns that light up the sky on her birthday. She strikes a deal with Eugene: he escorts her to the lantern festival, and she returns the royal crown he stole—unaware that the crown and the festival are both meant for her.
Rapunzel has become one of Disney’s most beloved princesses thanks to her creativity, resilience, and clever use of her magical hair—not just for healing, but for climbing, swinging, and lighting dark spaces. Her journey proves her intelligence and strength, disproving Mother Gothel’s belittling words.
3. Jasmine (Aladdin)
Like Belle, Princess Jasmine is a feminist icon, but her focus is on redefining marriage. She rejects suitors based on character rather than royal status, clashing with her father and the villain Jafar over an outdated law requiring her to marry a prince. In a powerful scene, she declares, “I am not a prize to be won!” After Aladdin uses his final wish to free Genie, the Sultan changes the law, allowing Jasmine to marry for love.
Though she plays a supporting role in her film, Jasmine champions female empowerment by challenging patriarchal traditions. She is also Disney’s first West Asian princess, bringing greater cultural diversity to the lineup.
2. Merida (Brave)
Merida defies tradition by refusing to marry any of the suitors presented to her, insisting on controlling her own destiny. This creates friction with her mother, Queen Elinor, who expects her to embrace the role of a proper lady. After a heated argument, Merida seeks a witch’s spell to change her mother’s mind—only to accidentally turn her into a bear. As Merida works to reverse the spell, she also brokers peace among the Scottish clans, securing the right for firstborns to choose their own paths.
Merida is the first Disney Princess from a Pixar film and the first to remain single, offering a refreshing alternative to princesses who find romance. She is also a skilled archer, sword fighter, and horse rider.
1. Mulan
Mulan, Disney’s first Chinese princess, is inspired by a classic folk tale. When her elderly father is conscripted into the army, she disguises herself as a man named Ping and enlists in his place. Her quick thinking and combat skills enable her to defeat much of the Hun army, and even after her true identity is revealed, she saves the Emperor and brings honor to her family and country.
Though not born into royalty and only later marrying a military captain, Mulan was honored as a Disney Princess for her embodiment of courage, loyalty, and the defiance of restrictive gender norms. In short, Mulan shattered the patriarchy.