October 11 is International Day of the Girl and ahead of this important youth-led day of awareness and activism, Disney has launched a new video series as part of their #DreamBigPrincess campaign, which encourages kids everywhere to dream big by highlighting the ambitious, independent, empowering qualities not only of Disney princesses but of inspiring real women across the globe.
Dream Big, Princess: Live Your Story pairs some of the world’s leading female trailblazers with 21 talented young women from 13 different countries who go behind the camera to ask questions, get advice, and invite the leaders to share their reflections on their path to success. Their stories have been captured in a series of inspiring digital shorts, which will be shared across Disney’s global social media.
The shorts, which were all shot on an iPhone X, were produced and directed by young women from the UN Foundation’s Girl Up initiative, and feature leaders at the absolute top of their game, like Golden Globe award-winning actress and star of Disney’s upcoming Mary Poppins Returns, Emily Blunt, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, “Good Morning America” Co-Anchor Robin Roberts, Apple Vice President of Product Marketing Susan Prescott, and ESPN host Victoria Arlen. They, as well as other inspirational role models from fields including entertainment, science, technology, fashion, politics, medicine, sports, and law, had candid chats with their interviewers, young women who have some pretty impressive resumes themselves.
From Oct. 10-Nov. 20, 2018, for each like or share of a public video or photo with #DreamBigPrincess on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, Disney will donate $1 to Girl Up, the United Nations Foundation’s initiative that collaborates with global partners to work toward gender equality worldwide (minimum donation: $500,000/maximum donation: $1 million).
So be sure to watch, like and share the inspiring videos and raise money for a great cause in the process. Here are a few of our favorites, but they really are all worth watching. Share them with the young people in your life and remind them that, as Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios Jennifer Lee says in her video that follows, “Where you are now is nothing compared to where you will go, and you have to trust that. You have a right to create. You have a right to have a voice.” Dream big!
Marisa Meets Emily Blunt
“There’s a line in Mary Poppins where she says anything is possible, even the impossible. I think that really symbolizes what dreaming big is all about, the idea if you want something big enough that the universe is going to conspire to give it to you.” –Emily Blunt
Louise Meets Victoria Arlen
“When you’re doubting, when you’re starting to shrink your dreams, just look up and keep dreaming bigger. All you need is one person to believe and sometimes, that person is you.” –Victoria Arlen
Marisa Meets Robin Roberts
“Make your mess your message. You’re going to make mistakes. If you’re waiting for a time that you don’t have that fear, you’re going to be on the sidelines a long time. The most successful people in any industry are fearful.” –Robin Roberts
Kayla Meets Jennifer Lee
“Where you are now is nothing compared to where you will go, and you have to trust that. You have a right to create. You have a right to have a voice.” –Jennifer Lee
Tapiwa Meets Dr. Ndifanji Namacha
“The sky is not the limit. Go for the heavens. Go for the gold. Work hard for your goals and don’t limit yourself. You can become anybody in the world if you work hard, if you have the passion for it, and if you love what you do.” –Dr. Ndifanji Namacha
Xiaochun Meets Leia Mi
“I think realizing dreams is very important, but the journey to realize those dreams is also worth remembering. So often, people doubt the ability of a young woman like me. I use those challenges as motivation. I never back off. Instead, I encourage myself to become stronger.” –Leia Mi
Maud Meets Kathleen Kennedy
“It’s never going to be easy the first time out, so you just have to keep going at it again and again especially if you firmly believe in what you do.” –Kathleen Kennedy
Editor in Chief of Better, Brooke Geiger McDonald is a Chicago native who has worked for O, The Oprah Magazine and Shape magazine in New York and for various book publishers in London. Back home in Chicago, she’s outnumbered by her husband and two sons, and the four of them are certifiable Disney and Star Wars fanatics, always counting down the days to their next Disney vacation. Her favorite nonprofits to support include organizations focused on environmental conservation and combatting climate change, such as the Environmental Defense Fund and Shedd Aquarium. Follow her on Instagram: @brookegmcdonald
