Disney unveils a new princess: Meet Sofia the First!

Get ready for a new Disney princess! A new girl is coming to town. Sofia the First is due to hit television screens in 2012 and the pint-sized princess will change your idea of how Disney presents their heroines.

Some moms and feminists complain that Disney presents their female characters as either scheming or needing to be rescued by men and are bad for little girls' self-esteem. But little Sofia is meant to be a more realistic role model that all young girls can relate to.

"In Sofia, we have a 'peer-to-peer princess,' a relatable girl experiencing the same social issues as our young viewers -- learning how to fit in, making new friends, conquering new skills and building sibling relationships," said Nancy Kanter, senior vice president, original programming and general manager.

"Although Sofia will have plenty of pretty dresses and sparkly shoes, our stories will show Sofia, and our viewers, that what makes a real princess is what's inside, not what's outside. That the inner character of kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty and grace make you special, not the dress you wear."

Little Sofia will be voiced by Modern Family's Ariel Winter, joined by Sara Ramirez of Grey's Anatomy as her mom Queen Miranda, Wayne Brady as wise-talking Clover the Rabbit and Tim Gunn as Baileywick the Royal Steward. Her tale is one of a regular girl swept into "a glamorous, but sometimes confusing, castle world of royalty, pomp and new stepsiblings, Amber and James" when her mom marries the king, according to the studio.

Look for Sofia the First in her TV movie fall 2012 and her own series spring 2013 on Disney and Disney Junior channels worldwide.

Image courtesy Disney