Cinderella
Midnight curfew breaker
Cinderella is the heroine of a fairy tale who rises from servitude to marry a prince, recognized by a glass slipper she leaves behind at a ball.
The name applies to anyone or anything overlooked or undervalued that achieves unexpected success: a Cinderella story, the Cinderella team of the tournament.
A Cinderella is also someone whose happiness is brief or fragile—the magic ends at midnight.
Transparent formal footwear from folklore
- wicked stepmotherFolkloric maternal villain
- fairy godmotherMagical benefactor figure
- pumpkin carriageGourd turned vehicle
- midnightTwelve o'clock at night
ball · prince · stepsisters · rags to riches · transformation · happily ever after · hearth · ashes
Presumed loser beforehand
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- mistreatedHarmed through poor treatment
- humbleUnassuming about oneself
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
patience · kindness · servant · transformation · recognition · discovery · triumph · redemption
Weaker side prevails unexpectedly
- rags to richesDramatic upward social mobility
- overnight successRapid rise to fame
- dark horseUnlikely but possible winner
- surprise winnerUnforeseen champion
German folklorists, sibling scholars
- Into the WoodsFairytale characters intertwine, darkly
- DisneyMajor entertainment conglomerate
- BrandyFemale given name
glass slipper
Transparent formal footwear from folklore
- wicked stepmotherFolkloric maternal villain
- fairy godmotherMagical benefactor figure
- pumpkin carriageGourd turned vehicle
midnight · ball · prince · stepsisters · rags to riches · transformation · happily ever after · hearth · ashes · enchantment
underdog
Presumed loser beforehand
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- mistreatedHarmed through poor treatment
- humbleUnassuming about oneself
resilience · patience · kindness · servant · transformation · recognition · discovery · triumph · redemption
underdog victory
Weaker side prevails unexpectedly
- rags to richesDramatic upward social mobility
- overnight successRapid rise to fame
- dark horseUnlikely but possible winner
Brothers Grimm
German folklorists, sibling scholars
- Into the WoodsFairytale characters intertwine, darkly
- DisneyMajor entertainment conglomerate
- BrandyFemale given name
- DisneyWalt Disney, Mickey Mouse, Disney, Minnie Mouse, Goofy
- bedtime storiesGoodnight Moon, storybook, fairy tale, lullaby, storytime
- childhood loretooth fairy, Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, boogeyman, monster under bed
- Classic FilmsCasablanca, Citizen Kane, Gone with the Wind, Some Like It Hot, Vertigo
- Fairy Tale CharactersLittle Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Goldilocks, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel
- Fictional RoyaltyAriel, Princess Zelda, Princess Leia, Anastasia, Moana
Cinderellawicked stepsisters
wicked stepmother · evil stepmother · villainess · Maleficent · cruel mistress
Cinderellatragic hero
Character whose flaw causes ruin
Icarus · fallen star · cautionary tale · King Lear · Marie Antoinette
Cinderellaprincess
Monarch's daughter or heir
heiress · silver spoon · aristocrat · socialite · queen
- Cinderella storiesUnexpected success narratives
- Cinderella storyImprobable rise to victory
- Cinderella CastleDisney World's central fortress
- Cinderella teamUnexpected tournament success story
- Cinderella dressMagical transformation gown
- Cinderella runUnexpected playoff success