These Boy Princesses Are A Dream Come True
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by Kitty Wolf for Boys Can Be Princesses Too
During the nine years Kitty Wolf spent working as a birthday party princess, one of her very favorite parties of all time was for a little Elsa-enamored boy. He dressed in his own Elsa gown, and was so excited to meet his hero. The two princesses even engaged in a lively cape battle. And while she loved seeing these free-spirited boys dressing up and pretending to their heart's content, she also witnessed how often and easily gender stereotypes could slip and muddle the imaginations of kids just trying to have fun. When she overheard two little preschool girls tell their princess-loving boy classmate that "boys can't be princesses" the idea for her photo project was sparked. She approached a few parents of boys she knew who loved all things princess, then put out a call to the wider world. She was inundated with applications, and the Boys Can Be Princesses, Too! Project was born. Over the last six months, Kitty, who is a professional photographer, has partnered with the Chicago-based children's party company Princesscapades Princess Parties to photograph ten boys dressed in their favorite gowns with their beloved princesses. Her aim is to show support for kids and parents of kids that choose to play as princesses, no matter their gender. "Adults seem to make it a bigger deal than it is, reading into it more, ascribing different messages to it, whereas the kids are just about having fun, exploring their creativity and imagination, whatever that may mean for their future," says Kitty. "Kids know nothing of gender stereotypes, they just know what they like. So, trying to see it from a simpler, or even a child's perspective can be helpful. Some people's minds will never change, but that's ok. Society as a whole will change without them."
Click through the slideshow below to see the enchanted images Kitty and her princess pals created, and to hear what some of the parents have to say about the experience. You can also click over and contribute to the project's Go Fund Me, which will support additional shoots with more magical little kids around the world!
Calvin and Cinderella.
​"A child's gender doesn't dictate the toys they want to play with. Or the clothes they wear. Or their favorite colors. Or their emotional response to things. Let's celebrate kids for their kid-ness and let them be little!" ​-Calvin's Mother
Elias and Rapunzel.
"Children should play dress-up and be able to pretend to be characters they see value in. Princesses are kind, smart, and determined, so what's not to emulate?" -Elias' mother
Everett and Belle.
"I think people are often scared about what other people will think. But when you get right down to it, you'd rather your kids be happy than random strangers be happy. I think people are just happy seeing kids be happy." -Everett's mother
Kai and Moana.
"It's OK to play, it's OK for him to be a kid—that includes dressing up as a princess if he wants to." -Kai's mother
Teddy and Ariel.
"In our house toys are toys and clothes are clothes!" ​-Teddy's mother
Teddy, Ariel, Calvin, and Cinderella.
James and Anna.
"It's important to us to support who they are and who they want to be in the future, especially through play." -James' mother
Micheal and Elsa.
"We're really supportive of what they want to do, how they want to play and how they want to engage with these stories." -Michael's mother
Anna, James, Michael, and Elsa.
Tobias and Tiana
Liam and Mulan.
"It doesn't matter how you want to dress. You can be whoever you want to be." -Liam, a 13-year-old who volunteered to take part in this project specifically to be an ally to boys that like to dress up as princesses.