I earn $100-AN-HOUR to dress up as Disney princesses - it is the best job ever

A woman has revealed how she gets paid $100-an-hour to dress up as Disney princesses - transforming herself into Moana, Princess Jasmine and Encanto's Mirabel.

Disney superfan Maya Browne, 27, from Los Angeles, had wanted to work as a professional princess since high school.

She used non-uniform days at school to express her love for Disney princesses and dress up as her favorite characters.

Maya regularly attended character cosplay conventions before she started experimenting with body paint and sharing her designs on social media.

She eventually sought work as a princess performer - and hasn't looked back since.

Meet the woman who gets paid $100-an-hour to dress up as Disney princesses - transforming herself into Moana, Princess Jasmine and Encanto's Mirabe

Disney superfan Maya Browne, 27, from Los Angeles, had wanted to work as a professional princess since high school 

Maya's career has gone from strength-to-strength and she eventually landed her dream gig when she was offered a role to host children's parties as the lead characters from Encanto, Mirabel and Isabela in February 2022.

Now working in what she describes as 'the best job ever,' she attends up to two parties a day as a real life princess.

Maya, a part-time cosplayer and part-time princess performer, said: 'I've always loved Disney and felt very connected to the characters.

'I basically just get to be a big kid as a job. I go to parties dressed up, hang out with the kids, play games, story time, birthday cakes, take pictures and get paid $100-an-hour.

'It's really fun and feels special, especially for those kids who might not be able to go to Disneyland and I can be their princess.

'Being able to make the kids feel special is very important to me.

'When I see their faces and they hug me and don't want to let go - it's so special.' 

When hosting a princess party, Maya's day can be busy, especially if she has to change character.

She used non-uniform days at school to express her love for Disney princesses and dress up as her favorite characters 

Maya regularly attended character cosplay conventions before she started experimenting with body paint and sharing her designs on social media 

She explained: 'I do my make-up which usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.

'I get there an hour early to get into my costume and prep my party bag. I make sure I have my storybook, face painting, speaker and tiara to crown the birthday girl.

'If I can't finish face painting all the kids, I make sure to have stickers to give out.

'I always have music playing when I walk in and give the birthday girl a big hug and talk with them for a bit.

'I like to jump into a dance party right away as it's a good ice-breaker. Then I go into face painting and balloons.

'Every parent is different with what they like. Sometimes they want games the whole time, but other times it's more personal with the kids.

'If I've got another party with a different princess then I have to change the make-up and costume in the car. I've gotten really good at changing in my car.'

Maya's favorite character to perform as is Mirabel, thanks to her 'high energy' and 'fun songs.'

'Moana is fun also because I can change my voice to sound like her really well.'

Maya had the opportunity to work with Disney when she cosplayed as a character from Avatar and described it as 'surreal.'

Maya's career has gone from strength-to-strength and she eventually landed her dream gig when she was offered a role to host children's parties as the lead characters from Encanto, Mirabel and Isabela in February 2022 

Now working in what she describes as 'the best job ever,' she attends up to two parties a day as a real life princess 

'It's been surreal. It's sometimes hard to accept that this is something I can do. I'm so incredibly grateful to have these opportunities.

'When I was invited to a Disney premiere and had the cosplay opportunity, it was crazy.

'Feeling not good enough for so long and then this company I've looked up to my entire life telling me to come along - it's just amazing.' 

After attending the LA Comic Con in 2021, Maya knew she wanted to work in cosplaying and princess performing.

'I had a mutual friend on TikTok who gave me her extra ticket and I had the best three days of my life.

'I learned so much about costumes and social media. It made me feel euphoric. I knew this was what I wanted to do and I wanted it to become my job.

'I also felt like I didn't fit in [at] school as much, so to finally feel like I belonged was amazing and I'd wished that for my whole life.

'I now sometimes get paid by TikTok for videos I post of characters that I've dressed up as.'

Maya believes better representation is needed for performers from all backgrounds within her industry, sharing: 'I'm half black, half white and there isn't really a princess that's the same as my background.

'All these other characters I do, I don't represent their background, but I have a similar skin tone.

'A lot of companies don't have enough performers to play certain princesses. I've never met someone playing Moana who's Polynesian.

'Most of the time it's girls who can physically represent the character but don't have the same background.'

She said: 'A lot of people online say I need to have the same background as the character to play them [but] I don't agree.

'If I'm not going to play Princess Jasmine or Moana, then a white person is.

'If there are more girls that look like me that want to do this job, then please start, as we need you.

'I don't feel like I have to have the same background, as long as I look like the character.

'As a kid, I would see Hispanic characters and relate because we resemble each other, regardless of our backgrounds.

'At the end of the day, it's a personal decision, but a lot of places don't care about representation.'