Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we shine a spotlight on strong women who inspire us. These ladies are a prime example of female empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said example to follow.
Princess Peach
Fast Facts
Princess Peach is the lovely leading lady of the Super Mario video game franchise. This iconic blondie is the ruler of Mushroom Kingdom and the Toads who live there. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and debuted in the 1985 NES classic Super Mario Bros. as Princess Toadstool.
Throughout the decades, not much is mentioned about Peach’s life or background. In The Super Mario Bros Movie, we learn that her first memory is somehow arriving in the Mushroom Kingdom as a baby. Luckily the toads found and raised her and eventually made her their Princess. Over the years she has done everything from racing to golfing, even competing in the Olympics. August has even been designated as Princess Peach Month. Peaches is easily one of the most recognizable female characters in all of gaming.
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Video Games
Since Princess Peach has been in almost every Mario game over the past forty years, she has appeared in more game titles than any other female character in video game history. Sadly, the Princess doesn’t have the best track record regarding female empowerment. Initially, Peach was created specifically to be the damsel in distress and unfortunately, it took way too long for her to break that stereotype.
Of the countless Mario titles Princess Peach appears in, she is captured dozens of times, only to wait for Mario to rescue her. This sparked some controversy because, for a long time, she was the only female character in the franchise and was mostly portrayed as helpless.
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Some games feature a more empowered Princess like Super Princess Peach. For once, Mario and Luigi are kidnapped and our brave Princess gets to be the hero. However, this game also ruffled some feathers because Peach’s abilities are based on her emotions.
For example, when she is angry, she bursts into flames and can burn away obstacles. Or if she is upset she cries huge fountains of tears that will water nearby plants opening new pathways. Despite the implications of women being overly emotional, Super Princess Peach is an incredibly fun, beautiful and well-made game that is still one of my favorites.
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Princess Peach Showtime! is the newest game to put the spotlight on our favorite royal. To save her beloved theater she must take on several roles including a Swordfighter, Detective and many more. It looks like this game will feature a much more capable and empowered Peach which is what we love to see. Princess Peach Showtime! releases for Nintendo Switch on March 22.
The Super Mario Bros Movie
The most dramatic change to Peach’s character happens in The Super Mario Bros Movie. Here, she is the strong and capable leader of the Mushroom Kingdom. After Luigi is captured by Bowser, it is Princess Peach (voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy) who trains Mario in the ways of the Mushroom Kingdom. She bravely journeys to the Jungle Kingdom to ask Cranky Kong for an alliance. After she rallies her allies, she leads the charge in a full-on battle with Bowser’s minions.
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Peach is only captured after she agrees to marry Bowser to save her toads. This self-sacrifice shows she is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her people. She even trades in her iconic ballgown for a more practical jumpsuit. Illumination is currently working on the next installment in the film series. We can only hope that Princess Peach continues to be the fearless leader we want her to be.
Jack Black graced us with the Peaches song which took the world by storm. If you somehow haven’t heard it, the song is Bowser’s love ballad to Peach. Every Mario fan out there knows the words to this song including everyone in my household.
“Princess Peach, brave as ever.” Bowser from The Super Mario Bros Movie
The Real Deal
Peach’s evolution over four decades has been slow. She has only been the protagonist in a few games over her lengthy career. It is disappointing that for so long many developers at Nintendo did not think it was worth making Peach a playable character but things have been looking up lately.
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We are finally beginning to see Princess Peach as a courageous leader who will do whatever it takes, including sacrificing herself, to save her people. In The Super Mario Bros Movie, she is an effective leader who seeks the advice of a council. The toads love and trust her so much that they make her their Princess. Even in the games where she is kidnapped, the toads are desperate to have her back which tells us she is a beloved monarch. Admired by her subjects and all who know her, Peach is the epitome of style and grace.
“There’s a huge universe out there. With a lot of galaxies. They’re all counting on us.” –Princess Peach from The Super Mario Bros. Movie
As a female gamer myself, it was nice just to be able to play as a feminine character in my favorite game. Even before her metamorphosis, I always chose to play as Peach. However, even as a young girl, I noticed the flaws in her character. I wish I could go back and tell my young self that Peach eventually becomes the badass I knew she could be. Thankfully, Peach paved the way for more female characters in the franchise such as Daisy, Rosalina, Toadette and more.
Why She Matters
It took a long time to see Peach become more than just a helpless Princess but things are changing. I think that is most important, that things are changing. Seeing Peach featured in more games as a protagonist rather than a narrative device shows the development of women’s presence in gaming.
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Perhaps developers are finally starting to realize that a lot of gamers, myself included, like playing as female characters. There is certainly more progress to be made for women in gaming, as developers, gamers and characters but Princess Peach is a symbol of this progress.
Peach’s slow-burn transformation also shows us that just because you start one way doesn’t mean you are doomed to stay that way forever. The more heroic versions of Peach demonstrate a balance between femme and fierce. Just because you love pink and wear a ballgown, doesn’t mean you can’t be brave and kick butt.
So be like Peach, do not be afraid to change the narrative even if it takes a while. Most worthwhile things in life take time and do not come easily. Be brave and resourceful to protect those that you care about. Lastly, embrace everything that makes you who you are and learn to become the best version of yourself.
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Hopefully, we see more of the butt-kicking version of Peach in the future, we adore her.
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