![]() ![]() Brandy is one reason I felt comfortable doing what I do because she was the first princess that looked like me on screen! Seeing her and Whitney Houston in the live-action “Cinderella” normalized being me and feeling okay to be myself. I’m one of the diversity and inclusion leaders here at the Disneyland Resort with Character Operations. ![]() To have every single child grow up and see themselves represented is special.īrandon: Brandy is one of the reasons why I do what I do. There’s so much diversity and many races, cultures, and ethnicities with so many amazing stories to be told. It makes me excited for the future of storytelling because so many stories haven’t been told yet. Now, young girls get to see the vast diversity of the Disney princesses we have today. It makes me so happy for young girls to see such representation at a young age. Seeing Brandy as Cinderella made me proud of who I was and proud of my skin tone, and proud of my heritage. To see someone who had braids and had my skin tone was beautiful! And to see the prince falling in love with her meant so much to me. It was inspiring to see someone in a starring princess role that originated as a predominantly white role on Broadway and in the original Disney film. I don’t believe this is real right now – Brandy is probably the only person I would wake up this early to see. ![]() Jasmine: I grew up watching Brandy in “Cinderella.” I wanted to be her I idolized her! But, meeting her is a dream come true. This same feeling of nostalgia and cultural representation was echoed by our Disneyland Resort PULSE Cast Members, one of the Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs) at the Disneyland Resort that advocates for nurturing the cultural, educational and professional development and well-being for cast members of African and Caribbean descent and background, when they had an exclusive opportunity to meet the global superstar and Grammy Award-winning recording artist after a live performance in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle of “ Starting Now” – the Ultimate Princess Celebration anthem.ĭisneyland Resort cast and PULSE members Brandon Edward, Disneyland Resort Character Lead Jessica Irvine, Guest Talent Coordinator, Disney Imagination Campus Clinton Road, Disneyland Resort Entertainment Performer and Jasmine Stuff, Front Desk Clerk, Grand Californian Hotel & Spa share what this exclusive World Princess Week moment means to them. While every animated Disney Princess held a special place in my childhood, it was The Wonderful World of Disney’s release of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” starring Brandy Norwood that still holds a special place in my heart! This was the first time I saw a Disney princess who looked like me – brown skin, braids and all! I knew every lyric serenaded by Belle, Ariel, and Jasmine. Growing up, the Disney Princess characters were my best friends. ![]()
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