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This article argues for a reconsideration of the developmental processes behind Disney’s iconic hand-drawn princess characters. It does so by examining the reference performances for Cinderella, Ariel and Tiana, whose live-action actors inspired the iconic designs and mannerisms that made it to screen yet are so rarely recognized for their contributions. Through sustained analysis of these women’s work as well as how that work was understood and utilized by Walt’s artists, this article reveals previously unseen aspects of patriarchy built into the creative structures of traditional Disney animation. Ultimately, by foregrounding the labour of the women who portrayed these characters in their earliest stages of conceptualization, this piece argues for greater awareness of the multifold layers of performance that the Disney princesses embody.