3-year-old girl in ‘Frozen’ costume faces racism. Internet has her back.
Like many other children her age (OK, and adults as well), three-year-old Samara is a huge Frozen fan. So when she and mom Rachel Muir were heading to a Disney-themed event at a mall in their hometown of Melbourne, Australia, Samara saw the perfect chance to dress up as Elsa. But some people at the event weren’t happy to see the adorable Samara, who is of Aboriginal heritage, decked out in her Frozen finest, according to The Courier.
Australia has long struggled with racism towards the country’s native Aboriginal population, and that conflict was on stark display when one woman told Samara (a three year old in case you’ve forgotten) that she couldn’t dress up as the Disney Princess because “Anna and Elsa aren’t black.” And according to Muir, that wasn’t the only racist insult hurled at her daughter that day.
Muir posted about the awful experience on Facebook, and it quickly spread. As of today, it’s been shared almost 2,000 times, and gathered a ton of public support.
“I can’t believe people can be so cruel,” wrote one commenter. “As everyone has said Samara is a gorgeous little girl.”
“Portrait of a Princess,” another wrote. “There is profound wisdom in those huge adorable eyes, this girl will go far.”
Although initially after the horrifying incident, Samara didn’t want to go to school, according to her mom, the global support she’s received since the post went viral has boosted her confidence.
She’s since graced the front page of The Courier in her Elsa costume, above the headline “Global Hug for Samara.” Samara also appeared on an Aussie news program where Disney World’s Elsa told her on air that she was a “princess.”
And there’s more: She’s been offered a cameo in Disney on Ice’s Dare to Dream show and rapper Adam Briggs asked her to appear in his new music video.
But it’s been the messages of hope and solidarity that have meant the most to Samara and her mother.
“I can’t express how much it has meant to us,” Muir told The Courier. “I just thought it would be a story people would click past and forget. To know that she has touched so many people … that they see her how I see her, is just incredible.
“After every message Samara smiles and says “thank-you your majesty.’ She is back to her proud, beautiful Aboriginal self.”
Thank you, Internet, for coming together on behalf of this beautiful little princess. And thank you, Samara, for showing us what bravery in the face of ignorance really looks like. You’re truly regal.
(Images via Facebook, Twitter)
