"I remember the first time I saw Beauty and the Beast like it was yesterday, and ever since then, I've had a love affair with the film and Belle (and the Beast, let's be real). Seeing Belle shake off haters who couldn't understand her obsession with reading gave me the confidence to ignore people's comments to myself and my parents when I was caught reading everywhere from restaurants to public transportation. And OK, I'll put it out there that it's a little messed up that she was forced to be in that castle, but that aside, I love that Belle isn't a typical princess whose sole purpose is to marry rich and look pretty for her kingdom. Rather, she's a simple girl who chose to sacrifice her happiness for her family and turned a mean, lonely man into a happy, caring one just by being herself and extending her kindness when it wasn't necessarily deserved. Plus, she wouldn't let anyone tell her what to do with her body (looking at you, Gaston), and she's a mean ballroom dancer. We could all learn a thing or two from Belle — she's a badass." — Alessia Santoro, assistant editor, Moms
