OlderDisney Princesses Debut as Curvy Goddesses! Plus, Exclusive Interview With the Artist
Disney princesses are what little girls’ dreams are made of.
When New York-based artist and fashion illustrator Jonquel Norwood sat down to create her “Magic At Any Size” series, she imagined what her dream Disney Princess would look like.
The magical series — included princesses Cinderella, Tiana, Ariel, Jasmine and more — went viral as soon as they hit her Instagram.
We think Jonquel is making the world a better place.
In an exclusive interview, we spoke to her about her project, why curvy princesses are so important AND she gave us a never-before-seen sketch of Pocahontas. See it here!
JJJ: When did this idea first come to you?: I’ve had the idea for awhile now, I just kept pushing it off out of fear. I’m a huge Disney fan, and the princess have been such a big influence on me (and many people) that they are almost like real people. They lack diversity, however, as I believe everyone has a right to happily ever after. I decided to do it because of that reason, they are the ultimate American dream.
JJJ: How long did it take you to illustrate each princess? Which one took the longest?: Not counting the time it took to research each princess and find the right looks for them, a few days (about 8-10 hours from sketch to finished product). Cinderella was the hardest, because her dress is the most iconic. I ended creating my own dress design. Tiana also took a while to create. I knew I wanted her in a African wax print design, so I had to create one that suited her.
Click here to read how body shaming played a role in this beautiful series…
JJJ: Which one is your favorite?: That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child, LOL. If I had to choose, it would be a tie between Tiana and Cinderella, maybe that’s why they took the longest. Though, I really want that apple bag Snow White has.
JJJ: Was this a collab with the stores you mention in the posts?: No, this was this was all my own doing. I used this project as a way to shine some light on the plus fashion community.
JJJ: What’s the message you hope this sends JJJ readers?: I once thought that my worth was measured by my waist size, so if I can make just one person look at my art and see a beautiful reflection of themselves, then I’ve done my part. And that nothing is out of your reach, no matter who you are or what you look like, you deserve a little magic in your life.
JJJ: What’s your next project?: Well, I will finish the princess line (Elsa anyone?) and maybe even the Villains. After that I thinking a glamorous Zodiac set. I also hope to work with brands in the future and continue to build my career.
