She would also be the studio's first Polynesian princess (though the character herself insists she's not technically a princess), marking a huge moment for AAPI representation. Two years later, "Moana" officially hit theaters and has proven to have some strong sea legs,

The actress, now 24, was 14 when she was first cast as the character. Moana’s journey in the new movie, Cravalho told People, marks the first time “in Disney history that a Disney princess has been allowed to age.”

The first film introduced Moana as the next in line to lead the people of Motunui, which in Western media has been interpreted as her being a princess of sorts; in the sequel, her adventures continue as she learns how to be a leader.

But Auli'i Cravalho, who has voiced Moana across two films, sees the category of Disney princess as a little more fluid. "Films are always representative of their times," she says