Cursed Princess Club Teaches Us That Not All Princess Must Fit the Mold!

Cursed Princess Club is a webtoon comic that was later converted into an "unscrolled" series of graphic novels. Although the series was completed recently, I have only read the first two graphic novels, which cover about half the story. Still, I'd like to make a post about it because I found this series incredibly uplifting for princess fans who feel they don't fit the mold. It's full of humor, bright pastel aesthetics, and surprising antics. The main character is similar to Emily from Corpse Bride in the respect that she sees herself as feminine and princess-like and is surprised when others don't due to her unusual appearance. She was brought up by a loving family who sheltered her and her two sisters, who fit a more generic princess mold with their blue eyes and pale hair. It's a story about staying true to yourself despite how others see you and subverting expectations.

Princess Gwendolyn's life in the Pastel Kingdom is turned upside-down when her father arranges a marriage alliance for her and her two sisters to a group of princes from the Plaid Kingdom. After receiving a photo of the royal family, the princes thought that the Pastel Kingdom's prince, Jamie, was the third daughter and that Gwendolyn, with her green zombie-like appearance, was a spirit that got captured in the photo by mistake. When Prince Frederick learns that Jamie is a man, and he is engaged to Gwendolyn, he tries his best to put up a polite front and does not overreact. However, he is understandably shaken by Gwen's unconventional appearance, and Gwen, being a gentle soul, is surprised and hurt when she overhears a conversation Frederick has about her with his brother. Instead of reacting with anger, she takes it upon herself to make amends with him. That is when she is discovered by the Cursed Princess Club.

This series contains many hilarious misunderstandings, which is where most of its humor and charm derive from. Frederick assumes that Gwendolyn is a witchy goth who is into creepy things like eyeballs and spiders when she is actually a kind-hearted sheltered girl who loves to make people happy by baking sweets. Gwendolyn assumes that Frederick does not like her for some reason she does not understand and wishes to make peace with him, even if that means terminating their marriage alliance. When the Cursed Princess Club meets Gwen, they assume she is cursed due to how drastically different her personality is from her appearance, but she assures them that she is not cursed as far as she is aware. After discovering her kind heart and sampling the delicious goodies she bakes for the club, they decide to let her stay anyway and become friends. The second "unscrolled" novel ends with the club members noticing how different Gwen looks from the rest of her family, something that is probably explored in the second half of the series.

One of the aspects that resonated with me in this series the most is how Gwendolyn's character challenges traditional princess tropes. Despite possessing many of the traditional fairy tale princess qualities, her unique appearance and sheltered upbringing make her an outsider among her peers. The Cursed Princess Club, a group of princesses who also defy conventional norms for various reasons, welcomes Gwen with open arms, and their friendship is a beautiful portrayal of acceptance and inclusivity. The series also cleverly subverts expectations around romance, as Gwen's relationship with Frederick is built on mutual understanding and respect that grows over time, rather than instant attraction or fairy tale magic. By turning these expectations on their head, the series creates a refreshing and delightful reading experience that will leave you eager for more.

Another famous green character that doesn't fit the traditional mold is Elphaba from Wicked. Glinda, like Gwendolyn's sisters, is used to being treated a certain way because of her appearance. Meanwhile, Elphaba is shunned by society because she doesn't fit the mold of a conventionally beautiful woman. Like the Cursed Princess Club, Glinda supports Elphaba and helps her feel better about herself. I recently purchased the movie version of Glinda's training wand, the item that brings the two of them together as friends for the first time. This wand is a lovely and elegant reminder of the magic of female friendship and empowerment over adversity. In other Wicked news, I was recently named an expert on this Ozmapolitan adaptation in a Rent article about Oscar-nominated films! The article, "Exploring the Design and Aesthetic of the 2025 Oscars Best Picture Nominees," contains many great perspectives about recent films.

You don't need to fit any preconceived notion about appearance or personality to be a modern princess. Cursed Princess Club and Wicked teach us that there is nothing more princess-like than being true to yourself regardless of how the rest of the world sees you. While it might be fun to dress a certain way or act a certain way to please others, at the end of the day, the truest form of being a princess is listening to your heart and respecting those around you. This is the most important message to take away from stories about unconventional princesses who subvert expectations. Have you completed the Cursed Princess Club series? Feel free to share your thoughts below!