What Does Disney’s New Latin Inspired Princess Mean for Girls?

When I heard that Disney announced the new Latin inspired Princess Elena of Avalor, I was like word? Notice she’s “Latin inspired” – that is according to the press release. For some reason Disney isn’t flat out saying she’s a Latina.

Princess Elena’s exact ethnicity

According to Nancy Kanter, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Disney Junior Worldwide, “What excites us most is the chance to use distinctive animation and visual design to tell wonderful stories influenced by culture and traditions that are familiar to the worldwide population of Hispanic and Latino families and reflect the interests and aspirations of all children as told through a classic fairy tale.”

Disney’s decision to stay quiet about Princess Elena’s exact ethnicity does feel a little odd. After all, we know the backgrounds of Mulan, Jasmine, and Tiana. So what’s the big secret?

Then I remembered the drama around Sofia the First. Back in 2012, Disney faced heavy criticism after reports claimed she was the “first Latina princess.” The problem? Sofia’s mom was described as a commoner from Spain who married the King of Enchancia. Many fans didn’t feel that was “Latin enough.” Disney later clarified, saying Sofia’s ethnicity had been misrepresented.

So maybe Disney is being cautious this time. Whether Princess Elena is officially Latina or not, one thing is clear—she represents a beautiful blend of Hispanic culture. From her olive-toned skin to her Spanish-inspired dress and the Latin-influenced storytelling, the cultural nods are hard to miss.

As a Disney fan and a mom, I appreciate this move toward diversity—and so does my daughter. She notices the little things: Merida’s curls, Jasmine’s skin tone, Belle’s hair color. Representation matters. Still, when you ask her favorite princesses, she’ll say Elsa and Aurora (no surprise there!).

But what I love most is the message behind having a diverse group of princesses: that every girl, no matter her background, is beautiful, valuable, and worthy of wearing a crown. I still get chills thinking about the first Black princess, Tiana, and it makes me excited about what’s to come. Maybe one day, we’ll even meet Disney’s first biracial princess.

👉 What about you? What do you think of Princess Elena? Do you believe this Latina-inspired character is a step in the right direction for Disney princesses?