So, I have taken it upon myself to provide a movie education for my niece and nephew (3 and 2 years old). But there’s a problem.

My niece has got it into her head that white is beautiful. Don’t get me wrong, it is, but it is not the only beautiful, you know?

We’re Pakistani and she’s fair, but not white. She sees her brother as white (he’s not) and her granddad also, who actually has melanin deficiency so yeah. Her favourite movies are Sleeping Beauty and Peter Pan and she’s obsessed with Princess Aurora.

My uncle was looking after her one day and, despite how adamant I was at delaying her introduction to Aladdin, showed her anyway. She loved it until she was told not to because of how Jasmine dresses. Now, every time we mention Jasmine, she screws up her face and shouts “Eww, I don’t like Jasmine!” I put Mulan on for her, but unfortunately she was only interested in Khan, the horse. So there’s a problem.

I thought about Pocahontas but I don’t think she’s ready for it, just yet. She’s already super curious about love and kissing (because elders have always told her to close her eyes or that it’s wrong but not really explained anything) and I don’t want to show her a film that makes that any worse.

So I need a film that has a strong woman of colour, without too much romance involved. Any suggestions? I’m really struggling and it upsets me that she’s only 3 and already becoming self conscious about the way she looks.