'She's Brown Like Me': Halle Bailey sparked joy in young black fans with The Little Mermaid reveal

When Halle Bailey took to the ocean as Ariel in Disney's live-action remake of 'The Little Mermaid,' it wasn't just her voice that made waves. The first glimpse of Bailey in the iconic role, revealed in a teaser during the D23 Expo, sparked a heartwarming and affirming response from Black girls everywhere.

"She's Brown Like Me" - Halle Bailey Inspires Young Black Fans

The overwhelming reactions to the teaser on social media, notably on TikTok, attest to the powerful impact of representation in media. The short clip features Bailey singing Ariel's poignant song "Part of Your World," and young Black girls, upon seeing Bailey's skin tone, found a connection. One girl joyously exclaimed, "She's brown like me."

This unexpected trend on TikTok — children watching and reacting to Bailey's Ariel — went viral, reminding everyone that representation matters. As Deadline reported in September 2022, Bailey was touched by the responses, retweeting one of the reaction videos and commenting, "People have been sending these reactions to me all weekend and I’m truly in awe. This means the world to me."

The "Most Beautiful Experience" - Bailey's Journey to Ariel

At the D23 Expo, Bailey reflected on the surreal experience of being chosen to portray Ariel on the big screen. Recollecting her childhood days pretending to be a mermaid in the pool, she expressed awe that her make-believe had manifested into reality. Bailey highlighted the emotional richness of filming 'Part of Your World' as the "most beautiful experience" of her life.

To have Rob Marshall directing and guiding her throughout the process added to the honor of bringing Ariel's story to life, Bailey added. With new songs penned by original composer Alan Menken and lyrics by 'Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda, 'The Little Mermaid' is poised to dazzle audiences and create a new wave of Disney fans.

In the wake of the viral reaction to Bailey's portrayal, the buzz for 'The Little Mermaid' has reached new heights. As young fans see themselves in Ariel, Halle Bailey's role has gone beyond acting — it's become a beacon of representation.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)