PHOTO: Spot The Difference… Disney Under Fire For “Sexualising” Princess

So what are the differences between the two images above?

Both are Princess Merida from Pixar's Brave. She has just been added to the Disney princess line-up (Congrats Merida) and is the first-ever Pixar character to be included.

But the "new" Merida on the right is older, slimmer and she's wearing a tighter dress, something the character herself said she didn't like in the film. She is also wearing makeup and has bigger, shinier tamed hair. 

It was Disney's new look for Merida as part for her induction to the princess line-up.

The world-famous brand has now been criticised of "sexualising" Merida, DigitalSpy reports.

A petition against the studio has launched on Change.org and over 112,500 people have so far signed up, including the film's former director Brenda Chapman.

Chapin told her local newspaper, the Marin Independent Journal: "I think it's atrocious what they have done to Merida.

"When little girls say they like it because it's more sparkly, that's all fine and good but, subconsciously, they are soaking in the sexy 'come hither' look and the skinny aspect of the new version. It's horrible!

"Merida was created to break that mould, to give young girls a better, stronger role model, a more attainable role model, something of substance, not just a pretty face that waits around for romance."

The petition reads:

She was a princess who looked like a real girl, complete with the 'imperfections' that all people have.

Moreover, by making her skinnier, sexier and more mature in appearance, you are sending a message to girls that the original, realistic, teenage-appearing version of Merida is inferior; that for girls and women to have value, to be recognised as true princesses, they must conform to a narrow definition of beauty.

Disney responded to Yahoo!, saying: "Merida exemplifies what it means to be a Disney Princess through being brave, passionate, and confident and she remains the same strong and determined Merida from the movie whose inner qualities have inspired mums and daughters around the world."