50+ Disney Characters that Are Based on Real People

The Princess and the Frog, released in 2009 featured Disney’s first-ever African American princess. Although some people complained that she spent most of the movie as a frog, a lot of people enjoyed Tiana representing a culture that we had yet to see in Disney movies.

Tiana’s appearance was based on the actress who voiced her, Anika Noni Rose. In fact, Tiana and Anika look so much alike that when asked for her thoughts about their resemblance, Anika responded, “I had no idea that Tiana was going to look as much like me as she did and I was mind blown. I had no words.”