Emma Watson’s Belle in the recently released live-action remake of the classic Beauty and the Beast is no regular Disney princess. She is opinionated, strong-willed and finally, a Disney heroine who can fully be a role model to young girls around the world. Watson’s association with the project lent it more credibility, with her refusal to wear a corset to avoid presenting a negative body image and the introduction of Belle’s inclination towards being an inventor.
But while the new-age Belle is heralded as one of the icons of modern feminism, there has been no dearth of strong and empowered female fictional heroines who have no time for society’s conventions. For every simpering and swooning Mills and Boons leading lady, there’s a punching-Malfoy-in the-face-for-just-being-annoying Hermione.
7 fictional heroines and what they taught us
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