Top 5: Disney Princesses

To manage my outrage at the lack of Disney films on Netflix, I made a thing. Yep.

• Belle, Beauty and the Beast

Belle was always my favourite, I think maybe because I related to her the most. Restless, bookish, considered a bit weird, not at all interested in idiot guys. C'est moi. She's always dreaming of adventure and is wonderfully loyal. Also, I've always over-romanticised all things French so, really, this ticks all the boxes.

My life.

• Megara, Hercules

While I don't adore Hercules nearly as much as I do the aforementioned film, I have a bit of a thing about Greek mythology and I love sassiness. Megara has sass in spades. I love that she's strong-willed and more than capable of helping herself...even if she did sell her soul to Hades to save a guy. Eep. Sometimes I suspect that emotionally I probably have more in common with her than Belle, in the same way that I emotionally match Eowyn yet aspire to Arwen. Or something.

Also my life.

• Merida, Brave

I saw this film twice in the cinema, and cried both times. I am not ashamed to admit it. When it was released on the DVD, I immediately bought it and watched it with my mum, and then I hugged her for ages. This film was made to be watched with your mum. I love everything about it. I love that it's a real story about misunderstandings and miscommunication. About how we hurt those closest to us without thinking. How we, as kids, selfish and thoughtless, often forget that our parents are people too...and vice versa. I love that Merida didn't have all the answers, but that she never gave up, and worked to fix her mistakes. And I love that, in the end, it was about mutual respect, and finding your courage and conviction. It's growing up. It made me melancholic but also hopeful. Mainly it made me want to go out there and have adventures and take risks - and even if I fuck up, it's not the end of the world. It's kinda the point. Besides, we can fix it. (And hey, my mum will still love me.)

• Jasmine, Aladdin

I love that Jasmine is so fiesty and that she's not afraid to go off and have adventures. She's very pro-active, generous, idealistic and fiercely loyal, all excellent qualities. Plus she's not afraid of upsetting the status quo. Also, pet tiger. Awesome.

• Rapunzel, Tangled

Because, frying pans. Also, that entire scene when she first leaves the tower and then has a small nervous breakdown? Most accurate depiction EVER of what I felt like when I set off on my travels at the start of last year. Pretty much perfect. I like that she's so sheltered and kinda naive, but thanks to spending all that time with only books for friends, she's also pretty well equipped to deal with the world. She's terrified but she still does it. She's quick to adapt and adjust. I like it.

Honourable mentions to the non-Disney Princesses:

• Anya, Anastasia

I adore Anastasia. It's so funny and lovely, sentimental and tragic. And it plays on concepts of truth and identity and that's so totally my thing (academically speaking.) Anya is resourceful and clever. I love that she's so honest and independent, that she has no qualms about standing up for herself. And she's determined - she never gives up once she's set her mind to something. I think she's pretty damn cool. And I love the sidekicks in this.

• Odette, The Swan Princess

Hmmm, bit of an odd one. I've just always had a soft spot for Odette. I like that she tells Derek to eff off because he's superficial, and then he has to prove himself by trying to find her while she's a swan (and tries to kill her? Transformation does not make for an easy romance.) Also? Tchaikovsky, bitches! Culture. Sidekicks in this are fab too - Jean Bob! I do not take advice from peasants! Hee.

Music: Where did the party go - Fall Out Boy