We can argue that diversity has been lacking in Hollywood lately, especially after hearing of this year's Oscar nominations, but it seems as if Disney might be an exception. Company executives announced today that it would be introducing the franchise's first Latina princess next year on the Disney Junior show, Sofia The First.
Elena of Avalor, described by Disney as a "confident and compassionate teenager," will make her on-screen debut on Sofia The First, but will end up starring on her own spin-off series. According to the company's press release, Avalor is set to be an "enchanted fairytale kingdom inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore."
E! reports that the series will revolve around Elena's task of ruling her entire kingdom. And in typical Disney princess fashion, she'll have a trusty entourage by her side, which includes a wizard-in-training named Mateo and a flying creature named Skylar.
Though only time will tell how successful Elena of Avalor may be, one thing is for sure: the Disney princesses have come a long way since the days of Snow White and Cinderella. The Princess and the Frog, which starred Tiana, the first African-American Disney princess, was a big box office success back in 2009. And just this past October, Disney unveiled Moana Waialiki, a Polynesian princess who will taking the big screen by storm in late 2016 in her own feature length film.