A Disney animated series has introduced it’s first male princess — complete with chest hair — to share an important message about gender bias.
In a recent episode of the Disney XD channel animated series Star vs. the Forces of Evil, the character Marco Diaz transforms himself into ‘Princess Marco Turdina’ for his visit to St. Olga’s Reform School for Wayward Princesses, where he is to be given an honorary degree.
However, before Marco is able to confess that he is pretending to be a princess, the school’s evil headmistress Miss Heinous outs him as a boy by exposing his single curly chest hair that is hidden underneath his purple gown.
Disguise: Star vs. the Forces of Evil character Marco Diaz transforms himself into ‘Princess Marco Turdina’ in a recent episode of the Disney XD channel animated series
Villain: Before Marco is able to confess that he is pretending to be a princess, the evil headmistress Miss Heinous outs him as a boy
Surprise: Miss Heinous exposes his single curly chest hair that is hidden underneath his purple gown
‘Turdina isn’t a princess. She’s a boy!’ Miss Heinous tells the audience, but the headmistress’ revelation doesn’t affect the princesses’ favorable views of Turdina.
‘That doesn’t prove anything! Princesses can be hairy!’ one princess in the crowd responds, while a hairy princess adds: ‘Yeah, we believe in you, Turdina.’
Overwhelmed with guilt, Marco admits that he has been lying to them and removes his gown to show that he is indeed a boy.
Miss Heinous argues that Marco’s lie is proof that she needs to be running St. Olga’s; however, the other princesses refuse to see gender as a factor in deciding who can be a princess.
Coming clean: Marco removes his gown and confesses that he has been lying about being a princess
‘Turdina is a state of mind!’ The other princesses refuse to see gender as a factor in deciding who can be considered a princess, and they tell Marco he can be a princess if he wants to
Groundbreaking: The progressive show is the first animated series created by a woman, Daron Nefcy, and earlier this year the program featured Disney’s first same-sex kiss
‘Why does it matter if he’s a boy? Nothing he said was wrong!’ one princess says, while another adds: ‘Yeah! He can think for himself, and so can we.’
‘He can be a princess if he wants to,’ someone else shouts, and another princess declares: ‘Turdina is a state of mind!’
‘Free will!’ one princess yells as they girls drive the former schoolmaster off of the stage.
The progressive show is the first animated series created by a woman, Daron Nefcy, and earlier this year the program featured Disney’s first same-sex kiss.
In the episode, which aired in March, a gay couple can be seen sharing a kiss for the first time in the history of the company.