PRINCESS POWER
Disney's new Latina heroine TV Week lifout
Once upon a time in the land of Florida, there was a girl named Aimee Carrero who enjoyed watching Disney princesses, especially Sleeping Beauty and Mulan. Even then, the Dominican-Puerto Rican girl knew that something was amiss.
There weren’t any princesses with brown hair and eyes that looked and spoke like her and her friends. Cue the magic wand and flash forward to 2016. Carrero not only gets to see a Latina princess, she gets to be one. She’s the voice of Elena Castillo Flores in Elena of Avalor. The character is being hailed as Disney’s first Latina princess.
‘‘For me personally, growing up, I always wanted to see my images represented, especially in mainstream media,’’ says Carrero, who sounds as polite and giddy as the princess she breathes life into.
Carrero says she understands the significance of the role and its potential influence on today’s young audiences.
‘‘I think it’s important because not only will it give thousands and hopefully millions of Latinos out there some representation, but I think also it will invite this princess into people’s homes who may not have any experience with Latin people. And that can only be good for promoting tolerance and unity among our cultures,’’ says 28-year-old Carrero.
Set in the fairytale land of Avalor, the show chronicles the adventures of the 16-year-old princess who has reclaimed her kingdom from an evil sorceress after defeating her.
‘‘I would describe Elena as adventurous, self-possessed. She’s bold but she’s compassionate and she has a very strong sense of justice and family,’’ says Carrero.
Too young to be queen, Elena learns to rule her port-city kingdom with the help of her grandparents, royal general counsel and friends. As she learns more about her people and their needs, she also discovers what it really takes to be a future queen.
The show incorporates various Latin and Hispanic influences, from the castle’s Spanish and Aztec-like architecture to the music that Elena plays on her guitar. Viewers will hear bits of salsa, banda, reggaeton and merengue in the musical numbers that Carrero sings.
Her character, who is pan-Latina, also has flowing dark hair that she styles with an apricot mallow flower, which is found in Southern California and Mexico. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the show.
The Elena character was introduced on an episode of another princess series Sofia the First which has been airing on the Disney Junior channel since 2012. Back then, the Sofia character drew criticism among some Hispanic viewers and advocates on whether she was Latina or not.
The little girl character became a princess after her mother, who was said to come from a land inspired by Spain, marries a king.
In Avalor, the princess’ grandparents and other characters speak with a Spanish accent while Elena and her little sister Isabel do not. Carrero can see why.
‘‘I think it speaks to the modern Latino American living in the United States,’’ Carrero says. ‘‘I am second-generation. My mum has a little bit of an accent. My grandmother doesn’t speak any English and my brother and I don’t have an accent. I think [Disney] wanted to represent what’s happening now with Latino people living here.’’
For Carrero, the Elena role is the latest in a career that started at 14 in musical theatre during summer camp programmes at the former Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami and the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables.
‘‘They really sparked such a huge passion for live theatre which is really what started it all. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be performing in some capacity,’’ says Carrero, who graduated from Archbishop Coleman F Carroll High School in 2006. ‘‘I am what you would call a ham.’’
She later majored in international relations at Florida International University and was a member of the school’s model United Nations programme. Since graduating in 2009, Carrero has been based in Los Angeles. She’s appeared in various TV shows from Hannah Montana and Level Up to The Americans.
She’s also proud of her starring role in the young adult TV series Young & Hungry. Since 2014, Carrero has played Sofia, the best friend of the show’s main character. Possibly in the works, a potential spin-off series that will focus on Carrero’s character as an aspiring journalist.
And like the princess she plays on TV who juggles various duties, Carrero will continue balancing her TV role while voicing Elena.
‘‘I always say that I waited a long time and worked very very hard to get this busy. I hope that it just continues,’’ she says. ‘‘If I can just keep things fresh and keep working and stretching my acting muscles, that to me that’s the ultimate, ultimate career.’’ – TNS
Elena of Avalor 5pm, Thursday, Disney Channel.