Analysis and Evolution of Disney Princess Facial Features

Background: Animated Disney princesses are desirable cultural icons that influence our standard of beauty. Trends in aesthetic surgery can mirror trends in societal preferences or ideals. Objective: To evaluate features and evolution of Disney princess faces across the recent decades and to compare pre and post-2000 trends in facial depiction. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, facial analysis was performed on Disney princesses. Analysis included measures of Fitzpatrick skin tone, quantitative measures of eye, nose, lip size, and characterization of eye, nose, lip shape. Results: A total of 15 Disney princesses were identified between the years 1937 and 2021. The most common Fitzpatrick score of pre-2000 princesses was 2 (n=4), compared with post-2000 being more evenly distributed. Eye enlargement of Caucasian princesses is noted from the pre-2000 to post-2000 era, with the round shape more common than the almond shape. The nose is most commonly a celestial shape and pointy, with ethnic princesses having more acute nasolabial angles. Lips were commonly heart-shaped in the pre-2000 era, and now more princesses have fuller and wider lips. Conclusion: Disney princesses show evolving trends of facial features across the decades, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Continued studies of mass media changes and influence on the idea of facial beauty can help us understand influences on society and on the medical field.