Disney is often seen as disempowering to women with its limiting standards of beauty and damsel-in-distress plot lines. Makeup artist Shonagh Scott turned the typical Disney narrative on its head by recreating princesses so raw and real they’re painful to look at.
The “Happily Never After” photo series finds Disney princesses grappling with abuse, domestic violence and severe injuries as their fairy tales turn gory. Snow White suffers from a chemical burn caused by a poisonous apple and Ariel’s voice box is viciously ripped out by the sea witch. Facing violence at the hands of their handsome princes, Belle’s cheek gets clawed after the Beast lashes out at her, and Cinderella trips while trying to escape her Prince and ends up with a glass heel stuck in her face.
Each gruesome injury ruins the Princess’ perfect visage, proving that beauty is fleeting and fairytale romances are often anything but.
