9 Women Share How Cinderella Inspired Them, From Childhood to Today

Cinderella has all the hallmarks of a classic fairy tale, including a deserving heroine, trusty animal sidekicks, and a healthy dose of magic. What makes the 1950 animated classic truly special, though, is that everyone can see a bit of themselves in the film's namesake.

That's the real magic of the story — not the glass slippers or enchanted carriage that turned back into a pumpkin at midnight. Maybe Cinderella's unwavering kindness taught you to treat others as you wanted to be treated, or perhaps her happily ever after gave you hope during a particularly dark time in your life. To find out just how universal the story of Cinderella is, we asked nine young women how the iconic Disney princess inspired them. Discover their stories below, and share how Cinderella has inspired you with #MyCinderellaStory on social media.