A woman from Denver, Co. has made her dreams of becoming a Disney princess into a reality — but it wasn't exactly cheap.
Sarah Ingle, a 25-year-old marketing manager, has spent more than US$14,000 on custom-made costumes of Disney classic princesses like Belle, Cinderella, Snow White and Ariel, as well as more recent characters like Elsa and Anna from "Frozen." In total, Ingle owns about 17 different outfits and 16 wigs, according to Cosmopolitan.
Although Disney can transform anyone into a princess with the tap of a wand in the movies, becoming a princess in the real world isn't exactly easy work.
"It takes a lot of time to get into the outfits because they have lots of layers that tie up at the back," Ingle explained to Hotspot Media. "Then I have a different wig and makeup look for each princess. I have to contour my face when I play Aurora from "Sleeping Beauty" because my face is much rounder than hers. And as I have hazel eyes, I have to wear blue contact lenses for the "Little Mermaid" and Elsa from "Frozen.'"
Ingle started a business with her boyfriend called "Princess Ever After," where people hire her as a princess for their events. And while getting paid to play make-believe royalty for a night could be a dream come true for just about anyone, Ingle prides herself most on being able to visit with children when she volunteers at hospitals.
"I'll never forget the day that I was asked to perform for a little girl who was celebrating the beginning of a break from her cancer treatments," she said, according to Cosmopolitan. "Seeing her face light up as she sang along with me was just incredible and it was just the most amazing day."
Ingle isn’t the only striking real-life princess lookalike. Back in 2014, the Internet discovered that Anna Faith looks identical to ever so popular “Frozen” character Elsa. And just like Sarah, Faith works as an Elsa look-alike, as well as a cosplayer and model who makes appearances at conventions and events in character, sometimes with her sister, Lexie Grace.
The resemblance of both Ingle and Faith to their Disney inspirations is remarkable, and also to Jirka Väätäinen’s renditions of what Disney characters would look like in real life. The Melbourne-based artist created a multitude of illustrations of favourite Disney characters, which went viral last year.
“I think a lot of people, like myself, have grown up with Disney and been fascinated and looked up to these characters,” he told The Huffington Post. “The great thing about having more of a realistic face, will allow people to feel even more deeply about these characters, see them as someone relatable or swoon-worthy.”
And the fantasy goes both ways: last October, Walt Disney animators and real-life couple, Normand Lemay and Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay created some marvellous illustrations of 34 classic Disney characters rocking the hottest designer heels.
Just goes to show that no matter how old you get, your happily ever after can come true.
UPDATE: Feb. 2, 2016 - This post has been updated with additional information.
With files from Lisa Yeung and Monika Markovinovic.
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