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We've become used to seeing Disney princesses as symbols of purity, beauty, and feel-good emotions. But what if they ever got into the real world with all of its violence, drugs, sex trafficking, and all the other horrible real-life problems that we see on the daily news?

That's what a Philadelphia-based photographer Shannon Dermody set up to explore in her latest photo series featuring Disney characters dealing with drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, rape, sex trafficking and all the darkest aspects of our real life.

The photographer is seeking to raise awareness about the real-world problems by taking us out of our comfort zone with her powerful photos and talking about dramatic living conditions many people around the world face every day. Just be warned that some of the stunning pictures are quite graphic.

More info: Shannon Dermody | Facebook (h/t: demilkedufunk)

#1

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Shannon Dermody Report

Silent Skeleton
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, "Beauty and the Beast" is pretty much a story of mental and physical abuse, and stockholm syndrome

Belinda Matson
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hate this movie for precisely this reason, despite his abuse of her she "learns" to love him? THINK about the message it's sending out!!

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Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This hurts my little Disney self so much

Lakia Hawkins
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was the only one that I really liked out of all of them, and the only one I felt was sending a message.

Saika Tags
Community Member
8 years ago

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Would be more accurate if the beast were a black guy.

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Cindy Martinson
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are closer to the original brothers grimm tales.

Hannah The Bear
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beauty and the beast wasn't about Stockholm syndrome, the beast freed belle before she began to see the good in him

Blue wolf
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After he kept her captive and constantly tried to make her love him.

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    #2

    Pollution

    Pollution

    Shannon Dermody Report

    Bob
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which princess is this? Ariel?

    Rylee Wolf
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes. Like how sea creatures suffer from pollution. Ariel is one too.

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    Just a Purpler
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dang it guys were killing the mermaids, we gotta get our act together, fast

    Lyn Jennings
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/

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    Annemarie Elshout
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the plastic soup in our oceansss... poor ariel

    Lyn Jennings
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/

    Vesna Brnić
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    @ThePurpleness pollution leads to disease and hunger, hunger leads to war, war leads to rape.

    Joe Bones
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    This isn't pollution.This is sleeping in the back of a car..

    thomas frix
    Community Member
    8 years ago

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    anytime somebody thinks pollution is at the same level as rape it make me want to kill a panda

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    #3

    Alcoholism

    Alcoholism

    Shannon Dermody Report

    Eduardas Jucys
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Partying with 7 guys can do that to you.

    Anne Madag
    Community Member
    8 years ago

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    atleast alcohol can't poison snow white. :D

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    Art Animal
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some of those bottles ought to be alcoholic apple cider!

    Cukie
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She is like 14 so this is bad

    cyberbird
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It surely is more tragic what happens before drunken Snow White falls asleep.

    Molly Block
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of Snow White snorting the gold cocaine in Rammstein's video, "Sonne." images-590...663398.jpg images-590fde3663398.jpg

    Hailey Adams
    Community Member
    8 years ago

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    Lmao epic. O ment

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    #4

    Rape

    Rape

    Shannon Dermody Report

    Peta Hurley-Hill
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is ridiculous.It's nothing about "raising awareness".Not everything has to be clouded and debased.The whole idea of things like "Disney Princesses" (of which I am no great fan)is that there is some small escape from the horrors of life.Of late ,there has been a real push to put an adult slant on them.To sexualize and sensationalize them.Which is exactly what this photo shoot is doing.FFS leave something for children,not everything has to be appropriated into something dark and nasty.Let kids be kids and let their safe,friendly,innocent "princesses" stay just that.

    Dominique Wilkes
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You do realize the real stories of the disney princesses are stories in which terrible things happened right? Sleeping beauty was actually raped in the original story. Snow White forces her step mother to wear iron hot metal shoes and dance until she dies at her wedding. Ariel dies after painfully dancing for Prince Erics enjoyment and he falls in love with someone else. Disney took each story and made it a more child friendly story.

    Lakia Hawkins
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    1st of all. there shouldn't be any kids on this site to begin with

    Mick Fowler
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is necessary. At least until rape isn't a "Previous Condition" for crooked insurance corporations and until men no longer think of rape as an option no matter what thrice-damned sport you excel at. Very necessary indeed.

    Wolfgirltiger
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The negative comments here really annoy me. It's just an artistic expression of real life problems. Get over your selves, this stuff is real

    Cheesy Potato
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this happened in the original story.

    As If
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Peta Hurley-Hill has a valid point and just as much right to make that point as all of you who slammed her for it. Why can't you just offer your opinion without it being about putting down someone else's? I like the photographs. I find them original and gritty, if a little less artistic than they could have been. I applaud Miss Dermody for being unafraid to do something different. At the same time, I sort of agree that this isn't an entirely appropriate area to make dark and twisty. And to Miss Hurley-Hill, I apologise for those who have nothing better to do than to go about all day telling other people their feelings are wrong. Thank you for your post. :)

    Alexis the kangaroo
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No joke in the original story Aurora (makes Talia in the story) was raped. This is actually accurate to the actual story of Sleeping Beauty (Named the moon, sun, and Talia or something like that)

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    #5

    Suicide

    Suicide

    Shannon Dermody Report

    Silent Skeleton
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't that what happens in the original story?

    Jhoa
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, she cuts her hair off in the original, to climb out of the tower. Didn´t you read fairy stories as a child? Or at least watch fairytail movies? The witch makes the Prince go blind, and he has to stumble through the forest to find Rapunzel. She cries, and her tears heal him. In some versions her hair grows back.

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    Dita Dévore
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Shouldn't Ariel have been suicide? In the original story she killed herself cause Prince Eric ended up with another lady.

    Zoe Alliaume
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought of it but I think that Ariel suits the pollution one better. Because it shows what we are doing to actual aquatic animals. While rapunzel suicided because she is lonely in her tower and I guess mother gothel hid her too well and no one found the tower. So I think rapunzel suits the suicide more. In my opinion of course.

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    DumplingQueen
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    is this rapunzel or elsa? Based on the comments, I think it's rapunzel but it looks like elsa

    Ava Barrero
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I also honestly think it’s less dont know why

    Kirigaya Kazuto
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is Rapunzel, if u look closer, she's hanging herself from her own hair.

    BoredBunny
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's Rapunzel. Last time I checked, Rapunzel was a Disney princess.

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    #6

    Sex Trafficking

    Sex Trafficking

    Shannon Dermody Report

    Anne Madag
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yes and she is abuse by her evil stepmother

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    ugaas wiilhoog
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wouldn't say sex trafficking more like forced labour as that also still happens in a lot of countries.

    #7

    Tobacco

    Tobacco

    Shannon Dermody Report

    Alan G.
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They missed a great oppurtunity to use a hookah.

    Aessidhe Eclipse
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think the might have been an artist who used it, it's not the first project like that ;)

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    Aessidhe Eclipse
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think there was some drawn version with opium with this one or some other princess, both nice :)

    Johnny Slapstick
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unfortunately, making these images Disney princesses makes them far less powerful than just making them normal people. Thought needs to be taken with the background settings, as well. Also, the smoke effect on this image is REALLY cheesy.

    Ash Bonilla
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a terrible representation of Jasmine

    Alan G.
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Jeppe Mouritzen, Jasmine is Arabic. The movie takes place in a sultanate in the Middle East. The Middle East is a region in Asia.

    John Neanda
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    oh lord, please save us from the evil of tobacco. Even though god made it

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    #8

    Heroin

    Heroin

    Shannon Dermody Report

    Luc Mailloux
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Uhh, you're doing it wrong. Ignoring the actual injecting... how are drugs in any way related to this character?! Most of these photos touch on themes within the stories. This one does not.

    Krystal Lyne
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think it's a play words for heroine... and Merrida is good candidate for a strong heroine .... but that's just my feeling on it :)

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    John Doe
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Brave meets Trainspotting.

    Qwerty12345
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I feel like Alice from the "Alice in Wonderland" would have worked even better.

    Kathy Aires
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Heroíne giestas you adrenaline that's what merida its all about

    Isabelle09
    Community Member
    8 years ago

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    youre kidding me, these get more ridiculous as time goes on

    Dina
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I am not getting the connecting between princesses and different social problems. Feels more like someone is trying to shock and "provoke". How silly

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    #9

    Police Brutality

    Police Brutality

    Shannon Dermody Report

    Hamilton Bubbub
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a little extreme. Most police are amazing people trying to make the work a better place.

    Andrea Reed
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You're right, most police ARE amazing people trying to do a very difficult and heroic job. Does that mean we shouldn't acknowledge the ones who aren't?

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    Tony Ph
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    she is Tiana from the Princess and The Frog.

    Llyana Abbott
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think the sad fact that most of the people in these comments are confusing Tiana for Fiona or who don't even realize there WAS a black Disney princess is a massive part of the problem. To the others - do you also excuse rapists by saying "Well not all people rape"? No. Because it doesn't even have to be said. So why do you feel the need to excuse cops who do things like this by saying not all of them do? If you don't think there's a problem you are part of the problem.

    Zoe Alliaume
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So i already knew this princess was Tiana but the thing is I don't really get the message in this image that goes with the story or is theoretical, so could you please explain to me 😅

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    Alexis the kangaroo
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This sadly is true. People of colored get shot the most.

    Pil Calderon
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Worst photos ever ! Not artistic or helping with awareness .

    porcupine
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree. I think the idea was there, but the pictures are kind of s**t.

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    Sarah Kim
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    who is this? like i mean as a princess

    Nicole Irvin
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The princess from Princess and a Frog - note the frog tattoo on her arm.

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    DumplingQueen
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    oh gosh. oh my god. the blood looks so real

    Gabbie Jacobs
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All of you guys are forgetting that this movie was set in the 1920s

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