Illustrator Reveals Disney Princesses With Realistic Body Types

Redrawn Disney Princesses

Ariel from Little Mermaid

Animated Disney characters are known for their extremely svelte physiques. Sometimes, this undermines the character and their story—such as in the case of Mulan. For a girl who was doing intense training, she doesn’t appear very muscular at all. Other figures, such as Cinderella or Ariel, have tiny waists that reinforce stereotypes about beauty standards. With all of this in mind, illustrator Wyethe Smallish decided to tweak the Disney Princesses and other characters and showcase more realistic body types.

In a popular TikTok series, Smallish first displays the original character design and then uses her Apple Pencil to erase them away and reveal her changes. The figures are more filled out, stronger, and overall more relatable to the everyday viewer. “Growing up as a little girl, I always looked up to [Disney's] princesses and admired [their] stories,” she explained. “I noticed that they all had the exact same body proportions, and that made it harder for me to relate to them as I grew up.”

This exercise has resonated with many people. “Overall there has been an enormous amount of positivity and appreciation for these illustrations,” Wyethe shared. “I receive messages every day saying how these images have helped heal their inner child. That makes it so worthwhile to me.”

Check out the body transformations below, and then follow Smallish on TikTok to see where the series goes next.

Illustrator Wyethe Smallish decided to tweak the bodies of Disney Princesses and other characters and showcase more realistic body types.

Redrawn Disney Princesses

Mulan

Redrawn Disney Princesses

Jasmine

The illustrations are part of her popular TikTok series.

Redrawn Disney Princesses

Jasmine

Disney Princess Redrawn

Jasmine

Smallish first displays the original character design and then uses her Apple Pencil to erase them away and reveal her changes.

Disney Princesses Reimagined

Princess Tiana

Disney Princess Redrawn

Princess Tiana

Disney Princess Redrawn With Realistic Body Types

Cinderella

The series is resonating with many viewers who enjoy Disney but find the body types problematic.

Disney Princess Redrawn

Megara

Disney Princess Redrawn

Megara

Redrawn Disney Princesses

Princess Aurora

Disney Princesses Redrawn

Cinderella

Redrawn Disney Princesses

Princess Aurora

While Disney Princesses are the focus, princes are included, too.

Disney Prince Redrawn

Prince Eric

Wyethe Smallish: Website | Instagram | TikTok

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Wyethe Smallish.

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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