Red lipstick is an iconic part of many Disney princesses’ looks. Which Disney princess is most known for rocking a bold red lip? Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders.
Snow White
Snow White, the protagonist of Disney’s first animated feature film, is a strong contender for the princess most associated with red lips. Her iconic appearance includes a red ribbon in her short black hair, a blue and yellow dress, and bright red lips contrasting against her pale skin. The bold red lip was an integral part of her designed look.
In the 1937 film, young princess Snow White flees her jealous stepmother and takes up residence with seven dwarfs. Even while cooking and cleaning for the dwarfs, she maintains her polished look with perfectly applied red lipstick. This persists throughout her adventures, including being put under a sleeping curse. The vibrant shade of red lipstick essentially becomes Snow White’s trademark.
Some experts believe the inspiration for Snow White’s red lips came from early 20th century fashion trends. The 1920s and 1930s saw the rise of American flappers wearing bold makeup, including heavy kohl eye makeup and bright red lipstick. The red lips made Snow White appear glamorous. They also served as a stark contrast to her pale skin when she lies in her glass coffin in deathly sleep after taking a poisoned apple bite. So the red lipstick plays an important role in the visual storytelling of the first Disney princess’ tale.
Aurora
Another contender for the most iconic red lips is Princess Aurora from 1959’s Sleeping Beauty. Princess Aurora is blessed at birth by magical fairy godmothers. They give her beauty and a gorgeous singing voice. She is destined to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an ageless sleep. The prim princess grows up living in the forest, unaware of her royal roots.
In the forest, Aurora goes by Briar Rose. She wears a black dress and keeps her long golden hair loose. But for her birthday party upon returning to the castle, she dresses in an elegant pink ballgown. Her makeup includes bold red lips paired with violet eye shadow. This formal makeup look suits her new royal identity as Princess Aurora. It’s a stark contrast to the casual innocence of Briar Rose. At the party, Aurora is drawn to the spinning wheel and pricks her finger, fulfilling the curse. She collapses daintily to the floor with red lips still perfectly intact. This vibrant splash of color against her increasingly pale skin helps signify the curse taking hold as she falls into deep sleep.
The red lips help visually tell the beginning of Aurora’s story. They represent her innocence as a 16-year-old girl dreaming of romance. The bold makeup also signals her regal status and formal presentation to society. It remains an integral part of Aurora’s image, contrasting beautifully against her fair skin and golden hair.
Ariel
Ariel from 1989’s The Little Mermaid is a redheaded mermaid princess who longs for life on land. She has a stunning natural beauty. Animation artists chose colors to purposefully represent her wild, free spirit and impulsiveness. This includes her long, flowing bright red hair and purple seashell bikini top. Her makeup palette relies on natural beauty, with the exception of bold red lips.
Ariel’s red pout serves as a striking pop of color against her fair skin and red hair. It shows off her fiery personality. The striking red also draws focus to her mouth as she sings passionately about her dreams and aspirations. While she doesn’t wear much makeup, the red lips suit Ariel’s boldness and contrast perfectly with her coloring. They help convey her strong will and determination to gain legs and experience life on land.
Megara
Megara, or Meg, from 1997’s Hercules is another non-royal princess known for her red lips. With her short purple dress and dark, choppy bangs, Meg embraces a bold, seductive look. Her makeup includes dark brows, purple eye shadow, rosy cheeks, and deep crimson lips. The red pout matches her sassy, sarcastic, independent personality. She uses her looks, including her bold lips, to toy with men as she works for the villain Hades.
Meg uses her sex appeal and confidence to draw in and manipulate men under Hades’ command. Her red lips signal passion and romance. They also represent her cunningness and deception. Over time, she develops genuine feelings for innocent Hercules and ultimately chooses to help him defeat Hades. But Meg’s signature crimson pout remains an iconic symbol of her femme fatale character. Compared to many demure, doe-eyed Disney princesses, Meg’s red lips signal her mature, womanly qualities.
Other Contenders
While the above are top examples, some other Disney princesses are also associated with red lip looks:
– Cinderella wears a muted red lip while ballgown-clad at the royal ball. It signifies her elegance and refinement.
– Princess Jasmine from Aladdin wears a brighter red lip matching her crop top and headband. It conveys her bold spirit.
– Mulan wears red lips when dressed up as an elegant woman, contrasting with her nude lips in armor as a soldier. It represents her fluid femininity.
– Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog wears red or pink lips as both a frog and a human. Her lip colors match her gowns and outfits.
– Merida from Brave wears a deeper berry lip stain fitting her casual, outdoorsy character.
– Moana wears a red-tinted pout playing up her natural beauty.
So while not all Disney princesses are specifically associated with red lips, some do wear variations of red or pink-hued lipstick tied to costumes or personality. But Snow White, Aurora, Ariel, and Meg most memorably use bold red lips as key parts of their looks and stories.
Conclusion
While all Disney princesses have beauty, some specifically use bold red lipstick to tell their stories. Although many wear red lips at some point, four tend to stick out as the original Disney princesses tied intrinsically to the iconic makeup style:
| Princess | Film | Role of Red Lips |
|---|---|---|
| Snow White | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) | Contrasts against her pale skin to show innocence. |
| Aurora | Sleeping Beauty (1959) | Signals her glamorous royal status and pending curse. |
| Ariel | The Little Mermaid (1989) | Pops against fair skin and red hair to match her fiery spirit. |
| Megara | Hercules (1997) | Symbolizes womanly passion and cunning manipulation. |
Snow White’s red lips in 1937 boldly contrasted with her fair, pale skin to show both innocence and impending doom. Aurora’s crimson pout in 1959 highlighted her regal glamour and pending curse. Ariel’s 1989 red lip matched her free spirit and contrasted beautifully with her natural coloring. Megara’s red lips in 1997 signaled maturity, sex appeal, and manipulation. Through the decades, Disney has used red lipstick to represent personality traits, pending fates, and key visual contrast. For these reasons, Snow White, Aurora, Ariel, and Megara stand out as the foremost Disney princesses distinguished by their iconic red lip looks. They prove that sometimes a touch of makeup magic plays a powerful role in bringing an animated princess to life.