The Little Mermaid plus size: why an artist draws full Disney princesses

Artist Crystal Walter’s followers were divided into two camps after she published drawings of Disney princesses in an unusual role for them – in a heavier weight. Some rejoiced at the body-positive pictures, while others began to accuse the girl of promoting obesity, refusal of sports and healthy lifestyle.

Full people also move

After the publication of drawings on which Ariel and Pocahontas “gained” weight, many subscribers tried to convince Crystal that these princesses certainly can not be fat. After all, both lead an active lifestyle – the heroines must have developed muscles. In response to the critics’ comments, the artist wrote a post about the fact that full people also move.

“Full people run, full people dance, full people do yoga, full people swim. You may not see us in the media or even on the street because for years we were forced to exercise behind closed doors,” Crystal explains.

Even despite being physically active, a person can still remain obese. And if you think about the princesses, Ariel would be much more comfortable swimming if she were at a higher weight. And can we be sure Rapunzel would have been able to maintain a slim figure after being cooped up in a tower for so long, going nowhere and moving very little?

Personal History

Krystal admits that she has always been obese. Growing up, she couldn’t find positive role models of people “in body.” Even in fairy tales, a full person is usually portrayed as either a villain or silly and comical. For example, Ursula, the main villain in The Little Mermaid, is portrayed as full. And in the cartoon “Puzzle” fat shown Sadness, and Joy – on the contrary thin. In her drawings, the artist changes the images of heroes and villains in places to clearly show the difference.

The girl wants to show adults, and first of all children, that it is necessary to love yourself any, regardless of the size of the body. Crystal does not want to promote the rejection of a healthy lifestyle or demonize the image of thin people. Her goal is to show full people in a positive way and change the way they are represented in the mainstream media.

Is it bodypositive?

Crystal’s illustrations are contradictory. On the one hand, they help people to get rid of stereotypes about fat people. Society will be able to get used to the fact that the main character is not necessarily a slender character without the slightest flaw. Images of a full Jasmine and Belle can help with body acceptance for other people, especially children and teenagers. Crystal herself has traveled a long and painful road to accepting herself and her weight, and now tries to help others do so.

On the other hand, such illustrations can lead to ignoring health issues. We should not forget that being obviously overweight affects the musculoskeletal system and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Sometimes excessive body weight is caused by other diseases, injuries, stress – in this case, it is difficult or even impossible to fight with excess weight. But often a person faces problems due to improper nutrition and sedentary lifestyle. Such behavior is already a personal choice.

From extreme to extreme

In bodypositivity, it is easy to go from one extreme to another. Someone will ignore health problems, calling them the norm. And someone will hatefully talk about skinny people, forgetting that this is also bodyshaming. It’s important to find a middle ground and remember to love yourself and respect other people’s choices.

If you look at all the illustrations in Crystal’s account, you can’t find in them a call to abandon a healthy lifestyle or an excuse for laziness. The girl herself has repeatedly posted videos of yoga classes and drew illustrations with full girls doing sports. By the way, she draws not only princesses, but also ordinary full women. In addition, in the account you can find drawings with people in wheelchairs or with a prosthesis instead of a leg.

With her work, the artist is trying to change the opinion about full people. To prove that they are also beautiful, also do sports and live a full life. Fullness doesn’t always mean obesity, it’s also a personal choice of a person’s body, in which he/she feels comfortable.

What do you think about Crystal’s drawings?