Disney unveiled what is being described as its first Latina Princess, Princess Elena of Avalor, who will make her debut on an episode of Disney Junior’s Sofia the First.

Meet Disney’s First Latina Princess

Disney revealed their plans for Princess Elena on Thursday, though she won’t be making her debut until 2016. In their official press release, Princess Elena is described as “a confident and compassionate teenager in an enchanted fairytale kingdom inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore.”

Elena of Avalor

The use of the words “Latin cultures and folklore” paired with Elena’s dark skin and long black hair suggest that she will be, indeed, the company’s first Latina princess. However, some are objecting to that classification. As pointed out by The Huffington Post, Disney never confirmed Elena was Latina, and the network has previously gotten into trouble before when Sofia the First premiered in 2012, prompting them to say that none of their princess characters were meant to reflect real ethnicities.

Still, Disney executives announced that Princess Elena would be very influenced by Hispanic and Latino culture, and she does stand apart from the traditional blonde and blue-eyed princess.

“What excites us most is the chance 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,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager of Disney Junior Worldwide Nancy Kanter.

Not only will Princess Elena appear in Sofia the First, she will also star in her very own series titled Elena of Avalor. The show will focus on the 16-year-old princess and her relationship with her Grandparents and her little sister, Princess Isabel. Elena will be voiced by Aimee Carrero, a Dominican-born actress who currently stars on ABC Family’s Young & Hungry.

Article by Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.