Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
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Part of Her World
VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images
She added, “I hope that [Black girls] know they are worthy and we deserve to be in these spaces. And I hope that they see themselves in me on the screen. I’m just grateful to be here.”
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Showing Off Her Red Locks
Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
Ina cover story forEbony, Bailey expressed why it was so important for her toshow her natural hair in the movie.
“There was a time when we’d barely see locs—and now we have a Disney princess with them, which has never happened before,” she toldEbony. “It was super important for me to have my natural hair in this film. I was really grateful to [director] Rob Marshall, because he wanted to keep my locs. It’s always important to have somebody to cosign.”
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Two Disney Princesses Unite
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
After walking the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere, Bailey slipped into a beaded gown that was reminiscent of the dress Ariel wears as she emerges from the ocean and reunites with Prince Eric in the film.
04of 14Father-Daughter BondingHector Vivas/Getty Images For DisneyOn May 11, Bailey joined actor Javier Bardem (who plays Ariel’s father King Triton) at the film’s premiere in Mexico City, Mexico. The two showed off their sweet bond as they held hands and shared an embrace on the red carpet.
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Father-Daughter Bonding
Hector Vivas/Getty Images For Disney
On May 11, Bailey joined actor Javier Bardem (who plays Ariel’s father King Triton) at the film’s premiere in Mexico City, Mexico. The two showed off their sweet bond as they held hands and shared an embrace on the red carpet.
05of 14Practically Pearl-FectHector Vivas/GettyFor the Mexico premiere ofThe Little Mermaid, Bailey was draped in another gown that evoked the sea, with its netting effect and pearl embroidery, as she posed on the red carpet, which was transformed into a seaside grotto.
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Practically Pearl-Fect
Hector Vivas/Getty
For the Mexico premiere ofThe Little Mermaid, Bailey was draped in another gown that evoked the sea, with its netting effect and pearl embroidery, as she posed on the red carpet, which was transformed into a seaside grotto.
06of 14Going Under the SeaJesse Grant/GettyFor “Disney Night” onAmerican Idol, Bailey gave a special performance at Disneyland Resort. Wearing a blue satin gown that gave the effect of rising out of the water, Baileybelted “Part of Your World” on the stage.
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Going Under the Sea
Jesse Grant/Getty
For “Disney Night” onAmerican Idol, Bailey gave a special performance at Disneyland Resort. Wearing a blue satin gown that gave the effect of rising out of the water, Baileybelted “Part of Your World” on the stage.
07of 14Fin-TasticDave J Hogan/GettyFor the film’s London premiere on May 15, Bailey donned a custom Miss Sohee gown with beaded seashell motif and a glamorous “swim cap” style headpiece.
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Fin-Tastic
Dave J Hogan/Getty
For the film’s London premiere on May 15, Bailey donned a custom Miss Sohee gown with beaded seashell motif and a glamorous “swim cap” style headpiece.
08of 14It’s All in the DetailsKarwai Tang/WireImagePearl accessories and the scalloped edges of the headpiece further added to the sea-inspired vibes of the look.
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It’s All in the Details
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Pearl accessories and the scalloped edges of the headpiece further added to the sea-inspired vibes of the look.
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An Adorable Disney Duo
Bailey and her costar Jonah Hauer-King (who plays Prince Eric) showed off their sweet chemistry as they shared a laugh on the red carpet.
10of 14Inspiring the Next GenerationKate Green/GettyBailey held a mini meet-and-greet with a group of lucky young girls as she attended the London premiere ofThe Little Mermaid.Speaking with PEOPLE, Bailey expressed howgrateful she is to inspire the next generation, especially young girls of color. “It’s exceptional to be able to see a figure that you look up to that also looks like your auntie or your sister,” she said.“When I was able to see them, I felt like I was worthy,” she adds. “Now that I’m on posters andinspiring these little girls that come up to me, it’s very surreal. I just want to continue making them proud of me.”
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Inspiring the Next Generation
Kate Green/Getty
Bailey held a mini meet-and-greet with a group of lucky young girls as she attended the London premiere ofThe Little Mermaid.
Speaking with PEOPLE, Bailey expressed howgrateful she is to inspire the next generation, especially young girls of color. “It’s exceptional to be able to see a figure that you look up to that also looks like your auntie or your sister,” she said.
“When I was able to see them, I felt like I was worthy,” she adds. “Now that I’m on posters andinspiring these little girls that come up to me, it’s very surreal. I just want to continue making them proud of me.”
11of 14Positively BewitchingKate Green/GettyBailey and Melissa McCarthy (who plays Ursula in the film) were far from poor unfortunate souls as they posed on the red carpet together.McCarthy, who recentlygraced PEOPLE’s Beautiful Issue cover, saidshe begged director Rob Marshallto play the Disney villain in the film.“I loved her so much,” she told PEOPLE. “She’s such a broad, I just wanted to have a drink with her. And yes, she’s the villain, but I was like, I think I get her. She’s been ostracized. Especially after COVID, I think we all get Ursula a little bit more — spending all that time alone. I just thought she was funny. And I love that it was about this young woman who was just trying to figure out what she wanted.”
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Positively Bewitching
Bailey and Melissa McCarthy (who plays Ursula in the film) were far from poor unfortunate souls as they posed on the red carpet together.
McCarthy, who recentlygraced PEOPLE’s Beautiful Issue cover, saidshe begged director Rob Marshallto play the Disney villain in the film.
“I loved her so much,” she told PEOPLE. “She’s such a broad, I just wanted to have a drink with her. And yes, she’s the villain, but I was like, I think I get her. She’s been ostracized. Especially after COVID, I think we all get Ursula a little bit more — spending all that time alone. I just thought she was funny. And I love that it was about this young woman who was just trying to figure out what she wanted.”
12of 14Hugs From ArielJoe Maher/WireImageBailey shared an embrace with one young girl at the premiere, who was proudly holdingBailey’s Ariel doll.Of getting a doll in her likeness for the film, Bailey previously said, “I am literally choking up because this means so much to me, and to have one that looks like me, that is my favorite Disney character, is very surreal.”
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Hugs From Ariel
Joe Maher/WireImage
Bailey shared an embrace with one young girl at the premiere, who was proudly holdingBailey’s Ariel doll.
Of getting a doll in her likeness for the film, Bailey previously said, “I am literally choking up because this means so much to me, and to have one that looks like me, that is my favorite Disney character, is very surreal.”
13of 14Riding the WaveRaymond Hall/GC ImagesBailey donned a pearly white ensemble as she arrived atGood Morning Americaon May 18, greeting photographers with a wave and bright smile.
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Riding the Wave
Raymond Hall/GC Images
Bailey donned a pearly white ensemble as she arrived atGood Morning Americaon May 18, greeting photographers with a wave and bright smile.
14of 14Ocean BlueDon Arnold/WireImageBailey donned an ocean blue dress with matching eyeshadow as she attended the film’s Australian premiere on May 22. While the top of her dress was encrusted with shiny jewels, the bottom featured a long train, giving the appearance of a mermaid tail.
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Ocean Blue
Don Arnold/WireImage
Bailey donned an ocean blue dress with matching eyeshadow as she attended the film’s Australian premiere on May 22. While the top of her dress was encrusted with shiny jewels, the bottom featured a long train, giving the appearance of a mermaid tail.
source: people.com
