Outline of Disney character Mickey Mouse
A rain spout stylized with the outline of Disney character Mickey Mouse is seen on a building at The Walt Disney Co. studios in Burbank, California August 9, 2011 Reuters/Fred Prouser

When people think of Disney princesses or women, they usually see a damsel in distress waiting for prince charming to save them. However, the stories and characters have also changed along with the times and Disney now features a wide array of heroines who can stand their ground against any human or creature.

1. Amelia ("Treasure Planet")

According to Fanpop.com, Amelia is the strong-willed captain of the R.L.S. Legacy. She looks like a cross between a human and a cat. She is sleek, elegant and intelligent and has a no no-nonsense personality. She showed a special kind of courage and stayed on the ship's wheel even in the midst of the star moving into a black hole.

2. Mulan ("Mulan")

The young Chinese girl deviated from tradition and decides to run away from home to join an army of men to fight the raiding Mongolian horde. She is witty, agile and resilient, which made her gain the respect of the emperor and all of China.

3. Merida ("Brave")

The story revolves around a Scottish princess named Merida who also departs from tradition by avoiding being wed to an ally prince. She gets into trouble when she accidentally turns her mother into a bear. The film showed how she transformed from a happy-go-lucky teenager to becoming a real woman that embodies strength, maturity and love.

4. Esmeralda ("The Hunchback of Notre Dame")

A feature by Kidzworld.com describes Esmeralda as a gypsy girl who fought the corrupt officials in Paris, France. She was depicted as an agile, witty and loving individual whose compassion for the poor and needy was exemplified by her introduction to Quasimodo. She ultimately overcame Claude Frollo, the main enemy and set Quasimodo free from his cathedral prison.

5. Elsa ("Frozen")

Elsa is a princess of Arendelle, who had the power to make ice, snow and frost. Even with her great powers, she showed her love for her sister Anna by isolating herself in the snowy mountains to avoid hurting her and anyone else. She was able to create a majestic snow palace at will, including a powerful snow titan to protect the castle and the friendly and adorable snowman Olaf.