Strongest Disney Princesses

Key Takeaways

• Disney Princesses play a pivotal role in Disney Movie history
• Their strength is not only confined to physical strength, but mental fortitude as well
• Princesses such as Bella and Jasmine defy the stereotypical roles of Princesses

Disney has been creating exceptional characters and charming, feel-good movies for generations. While the franchise and its approach to animation and storytelling changed a lot over the years, nothing changed more than their Disney princesses. Many of their traditional princesses were damsels in distress, but many now are capable warriors.

As Disney started to change so did their stories and how they told them. Thanks to new exciting Disney characters and the inspiring remakes of some of the most underrated female characters, these stories came to life once again to inspire and motivate people, from children to adults, around the world.

Updated November 8th 2024, by Mara Cowley: Disney was a powerhouse in the animated film industry long before they purchased the rights to iconic IPs such as Marvel and Star Wars. Their Disney Princess movies are what ultimately catapulted them to fame. From their very first princess movie in 1937 up to today, they have brought a variety of princesses from all walks of lives, even honorary ones who bear no royal title at all, to the silver screen. With so many wonderful characters, the dispute about who the strongest Disney princess is remains a source of debate, as there are plenty worthy of the title. A few more such Disney princesses are now included on this list.

In this case, “strong” does not refer just to physical strength. It can also mean mental fortitude. Also, honorary Disney princesses will be considered.

23 Maid Marian (Robin Hood)

The Kindest Character in The Movie

Everyone knows the classic story of Robin Hood, a thief who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, backed by his band of merry men, and in love with the fair Maid Marian. Disney gives their own unique spin on the series by drawing the entire cast as anthropomorphic animals, and Marian appears as a fox alongside Robin. As always, Sheriff Nottingham has his sights on Hood and his men, but they have their sights on the greedy and arrogant Prince John, who has riches in abundance.

As one of the secondary main characters, Maid Marian is given enough screen time to develop her character and demonstrate the strength of her character, which comes from her kindness. In a world where greed is starving the less fortunate, it is easy to become jaded and disenfranchised. But Marian remains a beacon of light and hope, raising the spirits of the poor rabbit children, and sharing a precious love with Robin.

22 Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Determined To Follow Her Heart

Thanks to her adventurous spirit and kind heart, Ariel is one of Disney’s most beloved princesses. She is a captivating character who decides to follow her heart and chase after her dreams, despite having to make extraordinary sacrifices. While Ariel isn’t physically powerful, she is still strong thanks to her resilience and unshakable spirit.

Ariel sacrificed her unique ability to communicate with creatures of the sea, as well as her enchanting voice to be able to walk among humans and find her true love. However, Ariel’s most special qualities are her curiosity and courage which reminded fans to follow their hearts, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. Thanks to these powerful messages The Little Mermaid remains one of the best mermaid movies to this day.

21 Alice (Alice In Wonderland)

Has A Unique Strength

Alice is Disney’s most whimsical female protagonist who has a unique kind of strength which has captivated fans for decades. Alice is an honorary Disney Princess who doesn’t possess any magical powers. However, she has a vast imagination, dreaming up her own fantastical world where animals would “reside in houses and be dressed in shoes and trousers.” After telling her sister how she wishes to live in her own world, she dismisses Alice’s ideas as “nonsense”.

However, a child’s imagination shouldn’t be cast aside as nonsense. Alice’s imagination is accompanied by her strong will. These serve to help her get through a dangerous and often surreal world. Alice proves her unique kind of strength is sometimes needed to face certain situations.

20 Mirabel Madrigal (Encanto)

One of the Most Relatable Princesses

After being forced to flee from their home, the Madrigal family finds sanctuary in a sentient house protected by the magical realm it dwells within, shielding the inhabitants thanks to a magical candle. A village prospers here, with the descendants each inheriting a gift that manifests when they turn five. Unfortunately for main character and honorary princess Mirabel, she received no such power, and lives a life of normalcy surrounded by those that are gifted.

As one can imagine, life is hard for Mirabel as she is surrounded by those who are capable of being extraordinary, and wishes that she was noticed and not constantly shunted to the side in favor of her gifted siblings. But even without powers, Mirabel still manages to save the day with determination. She is by far one of the more relatable princesses, as she is just a normal girl.

19 Cinderella

Demonstrates Great Resilience

Cinderella may not stand out as very strong, as arguably she did nothing to release herself from her situation, instead waiting for the fairy godmother and the prince to rescue her. But looking beneath her gentle exterior reveals a woman of great resilience.

Despite being treated like a slave by her stepmother and stepsisters, her will is strong enough to maintain a positive outlook when her situation seems hopeless. The live-action adaptation develops her character further, showing she sought to honor a promise to her mother to “Have courage and be kind”. Proving that kindness is not weakness, she’s even strong enough to forgive her stepmother for years of abuse.

18 Jane Porter (Tarzan)

Embraces The Unknown

Tarzan‘s Jane Porter is open-minded and passionate. While she may not possess any supernatural powers or isn’t exceptionally strong, her bright mind, resilience, and ability to adapt to new situations are all great assets. She has a kind heart, a desire to protect the jungle’s wildlife, and brilliant artistic skills.

Jane is a devoted scientist, a unique role for a woman from Victorian-era England, and an explorer who fearlessly left what she knew to travel across the world and enter the dangerous jungle. Disney fans fell in love with her contagious inquisitiveness and willingness to embrace the unknown.

17 Megara (Hercules)

Learns To Break Free Of Her Past

Another honorary princess, Megara is funny and far from a typical damsel in distress. Meg’s sharp wit allows her to navigate the challenges of her complicated world that’s filled with deadly monsters, and heartbreak. Unlike other Disney characters, Meg has a more devious side to her, but starts to wrestle with her conscience after following Hades’ orders to lure Hercules into a trap. She even gives her life to protect Hercules.

Her seemingly cold demeanor actually hides a big and loving heart. Meg’s strength doesn’t come from physical prowess but from wisdom and inner strength. Her fierce independence and good heart inspired Disney fans to stay open to love even if their hearts got broken by someone. Meg’s heart was broken by a man from her past, yet over the course of the movie she learns to let go and embrace a new start.

16 Belle (Beauty And The Beast)

Sees The Good In Others

Belle is one of the most intelligent Disney characters of all time with a heart of gold. Beauty and the Beast‘s princess is every bookworm’s favorite, and she uses her knowledge to help not only her father but everyone else who needs help, including her captor.

Belle never panicked or lost her ways, keeping calm even during incredibly stressful situations. She was able to use her reasoning and strong persuasion skills to achieve her goals, and even change the heart of the Beast. Mentally, she is one of Disney’s strongest princesses.

15 Vanellope Von Schweetz (Wreck-It Ralph)

The Most Powerful Glitch In The Arcade

Wreck-It Ralph gave fans one of the cutest and strongest female leads in Vanellope von Schweetz. She’s not only a strong Disney princess but also a strong-willed one who was always proud of who she is and never gave up on her goals. This skilled racer quickly became many Disney fans’ favorites who could all relate to Vanellope’s emotional story.

Despite being one of the smallest Disney protagonists, she actually had one of the coolest powers of them all thanks to her glitch. Vanellope was able to instantly teleport herself from one location to another and once she realized the power of her special ability she became even stronger and her glitch eventually helped save everyone’s life in her realm.

14 Jasmine (Aladdin)

Very Insightful

Aladdin‘s Disney princess is not the most skilled fighter, but she is a rather intelligent character. Jasmine can’t be fooled by anyone since she is able to read people’s true intentions instantly. She’s also not afraid to challenge the laws of her land: that she must marry a prince, and is unafraid to leave the safety of the palace and see “a whole new world”.

Jasmine is also one of the kindest Disney princesses, and she does have some combat skills and is capable of defending herself if needed. Thanks to her surprising physical strength, kind heart, and fine mind, she’s still one of the most popular Disney princesses of all time.

13 Asha (Wish)

Breaks the Princess Stereotype

Wishes are a powerful force in Disney, and given the very name of this flick, wishes are at the crux of the movie. King Magnifico of the Rosas kingdom has the ability to grant the desires of others, who sacrifice their memory of the wish to his hands. The main character, Asha, tries to apprentice at his castle, and requests that her Uncle’s wish for others to be inspired to be granted. However, Magnifico fears that this could pose a threat to his power. Asha realizes he never returns the lost wishes to his people, and sets out to right this wrong.

Normally, a Disney Princess, at point in the movie, meets her Prince and falls in love, getting their happily ever after. But Asha is a different type of princess. She still has goodness in her heart and the altruistic desire to help others, but she doesn’t need a love story to feel complete. She is far more independent, and is the hero who saves this day. This makes Asha not only a strong princess, but one of the best-written characters who could inspire a new generation of young girls.

12 Anna (Frozen)

Demonstrates Great Character Growth

Due to her isolation, Anna was quite naive at first. When she met Prince Hans, she became engaged to him that day. However, when Elsa runs away from Arendelle, Anna is firm in her resolution to go after her. She feels a strong sense of duty to protect her sister, though she doesn’t have her ice powers.

In the second film, at a critical moment, Anna is the one who strives to do “the next right thing”. After it seems Olaf and Elsa have left her, Anna bravely wakes up the stone giants, causing them to give chase as she makes her way to the dam. Risking her life, she encouraged the giants to break the dam, though this could’ve cost her her life. At the film’s end, she becomes Queen of Arendelle. Anna certainly proved herself a capable young woman who would make an excellent Queen.

11 Tiana (The Princess And The Frog)

Achieves Her Goals Through Her Own Hard Work

Tiana is one of the most relatable and resourceful Disney Princesses. Thanks to The Princess and the Frog, Disney fans could finally meet the studio’s first Black Disney princess who had impressive skills and powerful abilities both as a human and a frog.

Tiana is inspiring and ambitious, and she is not afraid of hard work and does everything in her power to achieve her goals no matter how impossible they might seem. Tiana can think for herself, and she’s quick to adapt to any new situation.

10 Eilonwy (The Black Cauldron)

Strong-Willed But Good-Natured

When talking about Disney princesses, it’s likely regarding characters such as Snow White, Cinderella and Belle, and very unlikely Eilonwywill ever be remembered, or even come up. From the 1985 movie The Black Cauldron, this young princess demonstrates a strong and unshakable will. She more than once chastises the main character, Taran, for reasons not deserving her antagonism, but the hard edges around her personality soften over time.

The affection she has for others, especially Taran, shines through this hard exterior of hers, and she has the wisdom to know that she can drop her defenses around the people she cares about. Couple this strong personality with her magical abilities, and it results in one strong, bonafide princess.

9 Rapunzel (Tangled)

Has Powerful Hair

The Tangled version of Rapunzel is one of the most powerful Disney princesses thanks to her magical golden hair that has an impressive length of about 70 feet. She can use her hair to move objects, disarm enemies, or as a rope to swing around.

What makes her powers even more important is their magical healing properties. When Rapunzel sings, her hair starts to glow and gains the ability to heal the wounded, even reviving those who recently died. While Rapunzel shows bravery and determination, she’s also very inexperienced in using her powers and doesn’t know much about the world which takes away from her strength.

8 Esmerelda (The Hunchback Of Notre Dame)

Always Stands Up For What Is Right

Based on a novel of the same name, The Hunchback of Notre Dame delved deeply into societal issues such as religious oppression, xenophobia, and how those who are seen as different are often ostracized from society. This is an struggle both Quasimodo and Esmerelda share, and it helps to develop their bond throughout the course of the movie.

However, Esmeralda would not stand for injustices to go unchallenged. She demonstrated her strength through her heart, always standing up to the wrongs of the world, even if it risks her own safety. She is a Princess and a hero of the people, standing up against the oppressors when others fear to do so.

7 Kida (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

Uses Her Great Skill To Protect Her Land

Atlantis: The Lost Empire is one of the most beautiful Disney movies with a great adventure story, funny characters, and one of the most impressive princesses. The movie deserves a live-action remake. Kida is a strong warrior princess who is skilled at combat and uses Atlantean martial arts and tactics to defeat her enemies and protect Atlantis.

What makes Kida exceptionally strong are the magical powers she gains through the healing crystal she wears around her neck. Kida can even merge with the Mother Crystal, becoming indestructible in that state. She is a powerful and great leader who eventually becomes Queen.

6 Pocahontas

Exceptionally Brave And Trusts Her Heart

Pocahontas is not only physically strong but smart, brave, and always mindful of others. Her father wanted her to choose a normal life and marry Kocoum, giving the analogy of being like a steady river. But, Pocahontas knew she had a different purpose, and was unafraid to follow her dreams, saying how rivers “aren’t steady at all!” The movie not only gave fans superb characters but some of the most beautiful scenes ever created in Disney animated movies.

Her strength also lies in being able to change the hearts of both her father and John Smith, the Englishman she falls in love with. Thanks to her influence, Smith is taught the value of appreciating and protecting the world around him. Pocahontas was instrumental in bringing peace to her homeland, when her people and the English settlers led by Governor Ratcliffe were about to start a war. She’s also brave enough to give up all she knows and travel to England in the sequel Journey To A New World.

5 Raya (Raya and the Last Dragon)

Adventurous And Skilled

Raya and the Last Dragon is not only one of Disney’s most beautiful animated movies, but it’s also an exceptional fantasy-adventure story that gave the world the first Southeast Asian princess. Raya is a true warrior princess who is especially talented at hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting.

One of the most adventurous princesses, Raya is not afraid to go out into the world alone and face her enemies who often have supernatural abilities. Thanks to another great character in the movie called Namaari, Disney fans also got their first evil Disney princess instead of the usual evil Queen adversary.

4 Mulan

A Highly Capable Warrior

Mulan is without a doubt Disney’s most iconic warrior woman. Out of a strong desire to protect her ailing father from conscription, she disguised as a man and joined the army in his place. She arguably influenced many other Disney princess characters who came after her awe-inspiring story.

Mulan is a powerful and savvy female heroine with military training who is also courageous and fearless even during life-and-death battles. She’s also one of the most experienced princesses when it comes to fighting multiple adversaries at the same time and leading armies to victory. Fans can also enjoy multiple versions of Mulan, including a live-action version of her story.