When The Princess Diaries hit theaters in 2001, it was hailed as a feel-good, quirky coming-of-age story. Anne Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis was the awkward girl we all saw in ourselves. Frizzy-haired, unsure, and stumbling through high school life. But watching this film again through adult eyes, especially as parents and women who have navigated decades of relationships, one thing stands out more than ever: Lili is the worst.
In a recent episode of Disney Moms Gone Wrong, the hosts revisited The Princess Diaries not just as a nostalgic rewatch but through the lens of motherhood, maturity, and hindsight. The discussion quickly turned toward Mia’s best friend Lili and how, frankly, her behavior hasn’t aged well.
Lili: A Masterclass in Undermining
From the moment Mia begins to explore her identity beyond invisibility, starting with a drastic makeover, Lili flips. Rather than supporting her best friend’s confidence boost, she immediately tears her down. She calls her superficial and accuses her of selling out. There’s no curiosity, no honest conversation, just judgment.
This moment hit especially hard with the Disney Moms Gone Wrong hosts, who reflected on the importance of surrounding yourself, and your kids, with people who cheer for you. Not people who feel threatened by your growth.
“She is not a girl’s girl,” one host said bluntly. “If I see Lili on the street, it’s on sight.”
It might be a joke, but the sentiment is real. As women, we’ve all known a Lili. Someone who only sticks around when we stay small. The minute we step into something new—confidence, opportunity, joy—they pull away or push back.
Why It Matters More as Adults
In our teens, we often miss these red flags. We’re conditioned to believe that honest friends who say what’s on their mind, even if it hurts, are doing us a favor. But now, as adults and especially as moms, we know better. True friends help you grow. They may challenge you, but they never diminish you.
Rewatching The Princess Diaries with this in mind opens up new questions:
- What do we teach our kids about friendship?
- Are we modeling relationships that uplift or ones that critique?
- Have we ever unintentionally played the Lili role ourselves?
Teaching the Next Generation Better
The power of a movie like The Princess Diaries is that it still sparks conversation years later. While Mia’s transformation is often seen as the centerpiece, her emotional journey from self-doubt to self-worth is far more powerful.
And Lili’s behavior is a reminder that not every long-time friend deserves a front-row seat to your evolution.
As the podcast hosts emphasized, watching this movie now is less about the tiara and more about the tribe. Who shows up when you shine? Who steps back when you speak up? That’s the real royalty test.
Final Thought
Let’s retire the toxic best friend trope. More importantly, let’s stop accepting those friendships in real life. Mia may have become a princess, but her true power came from finding her voice, setting boundaries, and choosing who belonged in her palace.
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