AN ABORIGINAL girl from Ballarat who was racially vilified while she was dressed up as Queen Elsa from the animated film Frozen has had her dream come true.
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Ballarat resident Rachel Muir took her daughter Samara, 3, to a Disney-themed children’s event at Watergardens shopping centre in Melbourne last month.
But the day ended in tears when Samara was subjected to a spate of racial slurs from a mother and her two daughters waiting in line.
The woman told Samara she couldn't be Queen Elsa because of the colour of her skin.
She was then berated by the woman’s young daughter who told Samara that "black is ugly."
A personal video message was sent to Samara on Tuesday from a real-life Queen Elsa in Disney World in Orlando. In the message, Queen Elsa told Samara to “Always be yourself.”
“Her mouth just dropped to the ground,” Ms Muir said. “She kept saying over and over ‘She's talking to me.’ We were in tears. It was so overwhelming.”
Ms Muir said she continued to be floored by the public support.
She hoped it would give others the strength to stand up to intolerance.
"People needed to be accepted as humans regardless of any diversity whether that be race, disability or any other difference," Ms Muir said.
The message was filmed by former Ballarat resident and Disney World employee Meghan Hope.
Ms Hope was compelled to bring some magic into Samara's life after reading her story on The Courier’s website.
"Disney about bringing magic to those who need it most," Ms Hope said. “Disney isn't about discrimination it is about believing in your dreams and living in a world where your dreams can come true."
Since the story appeared in The Courier on June 13, the family have received thousands of messages of support from around the world. American comedian Nick Cannon and Aboriginal rapper Adam Briggs have rallied behind Samara. Briggs, an acclaimed singer and activist cast Samara as the star of his new film clip. Briggs said Samara was a “bright, beautiful little girl who can be any princess she wants to be.”
The story has gained widespread global attention and featured on current affairs programs on SBS’s National Indigenous Television News and English broadcaster the BBC.
