Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ Dives Deeper Into Diversity And Representation.

Disney’s live-action version of the classic movie The Little Mermaid has garnered attention for a crucial reason: its inclusion and representation that authentically attracts a bigger and more diverse customer base. Singer and actress Halle Bailey, a Black woman, will play the iconic character of Ariel, which prompted criticism from some people who were outraged that Disney would reimagine the fairytale with a non-white actress. Despite the backlash, Disney remains values-led in diversity and inclusion, and has partnered with the hair care brand Carol’s Daughter, founded by Black woman Lisa Price, as the official hair care brand of the movie. Disney’s collaboration with Carol’s Daughter is a smart move because the limited edition products of the partnership will appeal to a broader audience and showcase Disney’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.

## Collaboration is key to inclusive marketing

Disney has upheld its values and some crucial principles of inclusive marketing. Collaboration, for instance, is a valuable tool to make a broader audience feel seen and like they belong. It is important for brands to ensure that the people they choose to work with and collaborate with, represent the people they are trying to reach. By featuring a Black actress as Ariel, expanding the movie’s inclusivity and representation became an opportunity for Disney to collaborate with a brand from the community; hence, partnering Carol’s Daughter to introduce limited edition products that celebrate and promote diversity and inclusivity is beneficial.

As your brand works to be more inclusive and attract and retain a more diverse customer base, be sure you’re collaborating with people, brands, and suppliers who are part of that community. Not only will it allow you to get introduced to new audiences in a way that feels natural and authentic, but you’ll also do a better job of serving that community. It will also enable you to elevate the community by partnering and paying people and brands who are part of those communities. Collaborating with marginalized communities can broaden a brand’s reach authentically and in turn, provide more value and inclusivity to its customers.

## Elevating communities

Authentic inclusive marketing is more than attracting people from underrepresented and underserved communities, it’s about making them feel seen, included, and elevating their communities. Many brands fail from an inclusive marketing standpoint by not making an effort to elevate the communities of their customers. Collaborations, partnerships, and building a diverse team of suppliers are essential and effective strategies to promote inclusivity for a brand.

Disney has shown commitment to diversity and inclusion through the representation and inclusion of various communities, which in this case is the Black community. By marketing with Carol’s Daughter, the brand’s acknowledgment of the Black community’s long-standing relationship with the hair care brand highlights the importance of building authentic relationships with grassroots communities. Brands can learn a lot more from Disney’s collaboration with Carol’s Daughter by seeking out community-based brands that reflect their inclusive values and collaborating with them to promote an overall message of inclusion and appreciation.

In conclusion, for a brand to be more inclusive and attract a more diverse audience, it must embody the core principles of inclusive marketing, which include collaboration, representation, and being value-led. Authentic marketing through collaboration can introduce a brand to new, diverse audiences, making them feel seen and heard. Inclusivity and diversity should be a core value that brands strive to embrace, and as a crucial part of societal change, brands must take steps towards elevating the communities of their customers.

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