MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
As any parent who's ever hit the costume store well knows, little ones love their Disney princesses - Snow White, Belle, Cinderella, Mulan. Part of the joy of dressing up as a favorite character is seeing yourself in that character. And now, with Disney's release of the trailer for the live action "The Little Mermaid," a new generation of fans is going to be able to see themselves in a new princess under the sea, played by African American actor Halle Bailey of the R&B duo Chloe and Halle.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE LITTLE MERMAID")
HALLE BAILEY: (Singing) Out of the sea, Wish I could
MARTIN: Parents started sharing videos of their children reacting to the trailer and seeing a princess that looked like them. Using hashtags like #blackgirlmagic and #representationmatters, the trend has gone viral, some of the videos even reaching Bailey herself.
(SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #1: I think she's...
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #2: A Black "Little Mermaid," wow.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #3: I've been waiting for another Black princess.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #4: Yes, yes, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #5: She's Black. What?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #6: She's like me. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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