Blue skies and sunshine are guaranteed as the start of a new era for one of Disney’s most beloved princesses is upon us! In late January 2023, a classic Walt Disney World attraction, Splash Mountain, closed permanently to make way for a reimagined family outing featuring Princess Tiana from the animated film, The Princess and the Frog. That, combined with Disney+ greenlighting a new series featuring the studio’s first black princess, means anika noni rose she will be too busy repeating her voice for both attraction and spectacle.
As you can imagine, this suits her very well, as she’s proud of the legacy Tiana has with the Disney community and the world at large. “I think the real legacy [of Princess & The Frog] it’s the way it changed the way kids see themselves,” said Anika hollywood life EXCLUSIVELY during our interview at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert. “Particularly, young brunettes, and how their friends accept them and what they think when they’re in their imagination. It’s really expanded and changed the way kids can relate to each other, but more importantly, relate to themselves. Beautiful.”
It’s her deep love for the character so adored by so many that keeps her quiet about any progress made on the two Tiana-centric projects. “I can’t say anything about Princess Tiana and her current movements. I’m sorry,” she joked when she was asked about the upcoming show and the transition from Splash Mountain to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. While the attraction’s closure saddened many fans, many others are excited by the opportunity Disney has taken to erase the attraction’s racist history.
Splash Mountain was conceived from the 1946 musical film southern song, which the company has not made available in any form for over 35 years. When the attraction reopens in late 2024, Br’er Rabbit and other animatronic characters from that film will be gone, replaced by Princess Tiana, Crocodile Louis and other beloved characters as they prepare for their first Mardi Gras performance. Let’s hope the fans left enough water in the log chute to continue… IYKYK!
The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection program returns to New York City February 1 at Lincoln Center to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among women. “It’s important for me to be here because women of color in particular have serious heart health issues,” Anika added. “Many times we are underdiagnosed and it is important that we think about it to talk about it. So we can save our lives before it turns into something terrible.”
As for how do you take care of your heart health? “I’m pretty regular with cardio,” she says. “I’m not trying to run a marathon, but I walk a lot. And I like an elliptical. However, I don’t eat a lot of fried foods. I love french fries. But I am very aware of what I am putting into my body and try to be consistent.
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Source: Hollywood Life
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
