Fallen Princesses—Photographer Reimagines Disney Princesses' Lives Without The "Happily Ever After"

Dina "not only deflowers fairy tales with her tantalizing images but she also 'de-disneyfies' them."

Stephanie

• Published in Disney
• September 28, 2024

One of the best things about being a child is that, in every story, everyone always lives "happily ever after." But what if all the pretty princesses and their handsome princes didn't go on to have such perfect lives?

Dina Goldstein has been a professional photographer for more than 30 years. One of her most popular collections, "Fallen Princesses," imagines what the lives of Disney princesses might have been like if they didn't live "happily ever after."

Dina created the series in 2008. When she became a mother, Dina began to notice the fascination young girls seemed to have with Disney characters.

When Dina moved to Canada from Israel as a child, she didn't know much about Disney stories. But when she had her own daughter, she began to realize the impact "Disneyfied" stories had on young children.

"I began to imagine Disney's perfect Princesses juxtaposed with real issues that were affecting women around me, such as illness, addiction, and self-image issues," Dina says. "Disney princesses didn't have to deal with these issues, and besides, we really never followed their life past their youth."

So, with limited funds, Dina started to assemble her photographic ideas, and the Fallen Princesses series was born. The images have since received global attention for their criticism of the Disney movies.

In an essay by Professor Jack Zipes, he says Dina "not only deflowers fairy tales with her tantalizing images but she also 'de-disneyfies' them." And we couldn't agree more!

The collection is both unique and undeniably captivating. Keep scrolling to see ten images from Dina's Fallen Princesses series.

1. Cinderella has a drinking problem

2. Pocahontas is a crazy cat lady

3. Little Red Riding Hood is addicted to fast food and struggling with obesity

4. Snow White has four kids and a husband who couldn't care less

5. Ariel is stuck in and Aquarium

6. Belle has self-esteem issues and has had several plastic surgeries

7. Rapunzel has lost all of her hair from chemotherapy

8. Jasmine is fighting in a war

9. Princess Pea appears to be in a garbage dump

10. Sleeping Beauty is in an aged care home... still sound asleep

What are your thoughts on Dina's Fallen Princesses series? It's interesting to think about what some of our favorite Disney princesses might have been like if they didn't, in fact, live "happily ever after" like the stories led us to believe.

The situations Dina has put them in aren't humorous or even lighthearted. They are serious, confronting, dangerous, and complex circumstances that real people around the world are facing every day in some way or another.

Snow White, with her "deadbeat dad" husband, is incredibly relatable for so many women today. And Rapunzel losing her beautiful hair to cancer is a sad and crushing reality for far too many people everywhere.

Which of the images do you relate to the most? We would love to hear your opinions on Dina's images, and you can share them with us in the comment section.

Stephanie