It’s not every day that you become the new face of a beloved Disney character! When 22-year-old actress and singer Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in the new live-action version of “The Little Mermaid,” the choice caused a kerfuffle among some fans who felt she shouldn’t play the role because of her race. Halle is the first Black actress to ever portray Ariel on screen, and there’s no denying this talented actress has the chops to breathe new life into a beloved franchise!
In another big step for representation in media, Halle recently unveiled a new Disney “The Little Mermaid” doll that’s available in stores now. The new Ariel looks just like the actress, right down to the distinctive freckle she has on her forehead. When Halle opened the box and saw the doll for the first time, she had to hold back tears of joy and excitement. In a video shared on social media, Halle shows off the new Ariel doll and gushes, “This means so much to me and to have one that looks like me, that’s my favorite Disney character, is very surreal.”
“I am gonna cry,” she continued. “I am literally choking up because this means so much to me.”
Halle stop – you’re making us misty, too! Watch her emotional reaction in the video below, and be sure to share.
omg 🥹💗the little girl in me is pinching herself right now ..i have my own Little Mermaid Ariel doll !!! I can’t believe how much she captures my version of this iconic character 🥹💕brb gonna go cry now … pic.twitter.com/NKn0H0mssT
– Halle (@HalleBailey) March 6, 2023
You can find the source of this article’s featured image here!
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.