Yahoo Lifestyle Brandy tells “Snow White'”s Rachel Zegler why being a Disney princess is 'the most important job in the world'
Brandy speaks from experience, having played the titular role in the beloved 1997 version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella."
Who better to give a Disney princess advice than a current Disney queen?
Though Rachel Zegler has yet to show the world her reinvented version of Snow White, she already has a certain Cinderella alum in her corner.
“I know Rachel will be absolutely incredible in this role,” Brandy told Variety in an October 2 profile about the Snow White star. That said, the actress who made history as the first Black Cinderella in Walt Disney Television's beloved 1997 version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella also had a few words of wisdom to offer the young star.
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"You’re not taking on this role to fit the mold of the critics,” Brandy told the outlet, addressing Zegler directly. “You’re doing this for every little Colombian girl who has yet to see themselves in a role like a Disney princess. You’re doing this for the little girl that you once were, who grew up without that representation of her Colombian culture.”
She added, “You are showing her that anything is possible for someone who looks like her, and that is the most important job in the world.”
Since being announced as the star of Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, Zegler has endured a barrage of hateful comments from those who struggle to imagine the Latina actress as a Disney princess. Not only does Zegler refuse to let the racist commentary get her down, she knows firsthand how impactful her presence in the film will be — after all, she grew up obsessed with Brandy’s iteration of Cinderella.
"I grew up in a house where that was Cinderella,” Zegler shared. “Obviously, we watched the cartoon. But a child’s mind is the most amazing thing, where it’s just like, ‘OK, that’s Cinderella, but the blond-haired, blue-eyed, blue-dress Cinderella from the 1950s cartoon is also Cinderella. Also, Hilary Duff is Cinderella in A Cinderella Story.”
Zegler noted that unlike her current critics, “I was able to comprehend those things at a young age.”
Brandy’s star-studded 1997 musical, which saw the late Whitney Houston portray her fairy godmother, took a “color-blind” approach to casting, marking a groundbreaking moment for Disney, especially where its beloved princesses are concerned. The film remains a cherished entry in Brandy’s oeuvre, so much so that she "immediately said yes" when offered the chance to return as Cinderella in this year’s Descendants: The Rise of Red. The films revealed that Brandy and her onscreen partner Paolo Montalban had been crowned Queen Cinderella and King Charming.
Brandy is not the first Disney princess to offer Zegler some support. The West Side Story alum previously bonded with Halle Bailey, who took on The Little Mermaid mantle in 2023. The duo were paired together for Variety's 2023 "Actors on Actors” series, during which Zegler praised Bailey for how she handled the racist backlash surrounding her casting as the first Black Ariel.
"You proved them wrong with grace," Zegler observed. "I was so inspired by the way you handled anybody who had anything bad to say about it."
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Bailey explained that “it turned out to be the most beautiful lesson — to block any naysayers or negativity out. Also, I’m an Aries, so I’m a fire sign. People are like, 'Oh, she’s so sweet. She’s so nice.' But a lot of times when I see stuff online, I get mad." She added: "It’s hard being women under the spotlight. People are so critical and say anything that they would never say to your face."
Her advice? "Stay grateful and ignore the hate.”
Snow White is slated to hit theaters on March 21, 2025.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
