I see it in their angelic faces. The broad devious smiles spread over their faces when “the one” cascades onto the scene of the screen. The camaraderie looks exchanged. They give a high pitched guttural cry and fall silent to what “the one” is going to say. She is perfect and marvelous. She’s powerful, witty, scandalous, beautiful, smart, and cunning. She’s….the… She’s the Villain?

I think it all started with Elsa. My daughter was 2 years old. It was her first experience with a Disney Princess. My daughter had never seen a Disney princess before Elsa. Elsa was indifferent, powerful, honest, scared, brave, protective, knowing, and beautiful. She walked the line between dangerous and helpful. Most of all, she could create an imaginative and untamed world she wanted for herself. My daughter ate this up like cotton candy. My younger daughter soon followed. Quite the contrary from the tamed princess’ I grew up with.

Then followed Disney Descendants…then Maleficent. My girls were drawn to High School Musical. Here, they surprised me most of all. While they loved the “realistic” parodies of High School drama, they both admitted a passionate love for Sharpay.

“She’s the best Mom! OMG… Mom, she’s my favorite character!”

Back in the day, or my day…Of Sleeping Beauties, naive mermaids, wicked step-sisters, and a beauty taming beasts… Sharpay would be the classic “mean girl” Villain. But to my girls: she was confidant, assertive, pretty, and head-strong. She was also funny (not by choice) but bar none, the most entertaining. When I asked the girls why they loved Sharpay so much, they gave me an honest answer: She knows exactly what she wants, she’s not afraid of doing what it takes to get it…. And she’s fabulous!

This reminded me of when I was the age between eight and ten. I secretly used to pretend I was a wicked witch in my room. By day, to the open world, I was a pedantic damsel in distress. A fair princess bestowing generosity and selflessness to any bystander in need. But my real pleasure solidified in the privacy of my room where I transformed into a wicked witch. Making potions, transforming my appearance to my true self: A rogue spirit, powerful, smart, and unapologetically untamed. I delighted in the danger of tampering between what is good and what is bad for a girl. I delighted in my secret identity but I was also afraid to share it with anyone. I may be labeled a mean girl, an ugly girl, or worst of all: evil with plan.

Nowadays, in my world of dress-up and imaginative play, I find my girls selecting the costumes of the villains.

“Who wants to be Gabriella? Or who wants to be Audrey? Or maybe Cinderella?”

“No offense, but pass. They’re kinda boring Mom.”

“I want to be Uma!…My six year old strikes a pose: “Whats my Name!”

If being the villain controversially leads girls to empowerment, sign me up, please. Warts and all.