Updated 05:55 PM EST, Sun, Dec 22, 2024

Disney Latina Princess: Elena of Avalor, is the First Ever!

  • +
  • -
  • Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE

Disney has officially launched Elena of Avalor, its first ever Latina princess.

Princess Elena will make her debut appearance in a special episode of Disney Junior's popular TV show "Sofia the First," Fox News Latino reports. The olive-skinned beauty will then star in her own spin-off show, titled "Elena of Avalor," on the network in 2016.

The character wears a red ruffled dress and a pair of hoop earrings. One of her striking features is her long dark hair which is adorned with flowers. Disney describes Elena as "a confident and compassionate teenager in an enchanted fairy tale kingdom inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore," according to a statement issued on January 29, as quoted by Us Weekly. The princess is also "bold, caring, funny, and clever" and is "the ascendant to the throne in the fairy tale kingdom of Avalor."

Elena will be voiced by Aimee Carrero, of ABC Family's "Young and Hungry," Us Weekly notes.

Nancy Kanter, Disney Junior's Executive Vice President and General Manager, said that her creative team aimed to deliver "a universal story with themes that authentically reflect the hopes and dreams of our diverse audience," the news outlet reports.

"What excites us most is the chance to use distinctive animation and visual design to tell wonderful stories influenced by culture and traditions that are familiar to the worldwide population of Hispanic and Latino families and reflect the interests and aspirations of all children as told through a classic fairy tale," Kanter added, as quoted by Us Weekly.

According to Fox News Latino, the upcoming show will start with one full-hour episode and will continue developing as a series. Alex Nogales, President and CEO for the National Hispanic Media Coalition or NHMC, said that he is pleased to finally see a Latina princess on TV.

"We are very happy about it," Nogales told Fox News Latino. "We all know that Latinos consume media, we all know they are the biggest consumers of this kind of media - so it makes sense, right?"

He added that he was informed of the new character by Kanter the evening before the official announcement about Elena came out. Nogales also recalled one of his conversations with Kanter back in 2012, wherein they discussed and clarified the issue regarding Sofia's ethnicity. That discussion resulted to the creation of Elena, Fox News Latino explains.

Controversies have surrounded Sofia in the past, who Disney previously introduced as the first Latina princess. Hispanics have reacted negatively on this, saying that Sofia looked too white to be a Latina. Disney, however, said that the character is of mixed heritage. Her mother hailed from a fairy tale kingdom fashioned after Spain (Galdiz) and her father came from a kingdom inspired by Scandinavia.

© 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
  • Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE
Close

Curiosidades

Real Time Analytics