Disney's First African-American Princess

It may be another fairy tale, but The Princess and the Frog — the much-buzzed-about, hotly scrutinized Disney film set in 1920s New Orleans — is hardly superficial. For the first time in the storied studio's animated history, an African-American princess takes the title role (Jasmine from 1992's Aladdin was the first ethnic princess), reinforcing the message en masse that black is beautiful. And to get it right — Princess Tiana's rounder features, her Southern inflection, and even her hairstyles (it's not your basic Barbie skin-color swap) — Disney smartly called up the experts, from Oprah to members of the NAACP. They even asked Brooklyn-based beauty line Carol's Daughter (with devotees-cum-investors like Jada Pinkett Smith and Jay-Z) to whip up the official grooming goods, upping ethnic authenticity and appeal — for black women and beyond. Of course, Tiana isn't the first girl to challenge the conventions of American beauty — think of songbird Josephine Baker who ruled the roaring '20s with her then-"exotic" looks and styling; the gutsy Pat Evans, who shunned the modeling world's requisite black perm (chemical straightening) and buzzed her hair; the striking ebony curves of Naomi Sims, Grace Jones, Alek Wek — and Michelle Obama — who inspired artists and designers alike. Instead, Tiana is an homage to the many empowering black beauties before her. And that, in itself, makes for a happy ending.

BEAUTY TIMELINE

1920s Josephine Baker puts black beauty in the spotlight with her Paris debut.