Princess Power!

People take their Disney princesses very seriously. So when Merida's Royal Coronation at Cinderella's castle in Walt Disney World took place this past weekend, it caused all kinds of craziness. Why? Because the redheaded Brave star had a controversial new look.

As C. Edwards writes at Cartoon Brew:

"The makeover, which apparently happened to all the Disney princesses when no one was looking, involved dropping 20 pounds, caking on some mascara and giving Merida a Keratin hair treatment. "There's the hot hair, the coy expression,' wrote Peggy Orenstein, author of Cinderella Ate My Daughter. 'Also the obligatory exposed shoulders, slimmer waist, and the bow and arrow replaced by... what is that, a low-slung belt?...Because, in the end, it wasn't about being brave after all. It was about being pretty.'"

While we don't always weigh in on princess politics, this was just too juicy to pass up (and we know there are plenty of queens out there who have an opinion). And just look at that harem! They all kinda look like bad Barbie remakes (well, maybe not Mulan). The new looks caused such an uproar that there's even a Change.org petition that already has over 171,000 sigs.

"The redesign of Merida in advance of her official induction to the Disney Princess collection does a tremendous disservice to the millions of children for whom Merida is an empowering role model who speaks to girls' capacity to be change agents in the world rather than just trophies to be admired. Moreover, by making her skinnier, sexier and more mature in appearance, you are sending a message to girls that the original, realistic, teenage-appearing version of Merida is inferior; that for girls and women to have value -- to be recognized as true princesses -- they must conform to a narrow definition of beauty."

All those lil' girls yes! But what about the disservice to the gay boys, too!