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WHO IS PRINCESS TIANA?

December 8, 2009 12:35 am

Kimani Smith has been a princess in her own mind for most of her 6 years.

So naturally, she was thrilled to have that notion confirmed on national television last month by none other than talk show host Tyra Banks and the newest member of Disney's royal family, Princess Tiana.

The first-grader at Stafford County's Falmouth Elementary School is still getting her head around the royal treatment she got from Banks, an actress and executive producer of "America's Next Top Model" who surprised Kimani and two other little girls with a four-day trip to Disney World.

"It was the trip of a lifetime," said Kimani's mom, Chante Smith. "It was a whirlwind."

The adventure began when Smith noticed that "The Tyra Banks Show" was working on an episode about Tiana, Disney's first African-American princess and the star of "The Princess and the Frog," which hits theaters this week. The show put out a call for little girls who love princesses.

"I said, 'OK, that's my daughter,'" Smith said. "She's all princessy."

Smith sent them a note about Kimani, who says she's loved princesses "maybe forever" because they're pretty, wear fancy dresses and help people.

Within days, Smith got a call from one of the show's representatives, inviting her and Kimani to New York for a taping.

It was the first time the two had ever taken a mother-daughter trip. It was also Kimani's first excursion to the Big Apple--and her first time riding a train.

"It was a really, really long ride," Kimani said of the three-hour journey. "But we had snacks on the train, because you've gotta eat on the train."

A DISNEY SURPRISE

In New York, Kimani hailed her first cab, gazed up at the tall buildings and spent some quality time at the Toys "R" Us in Times Square.

"They had a big, tall dinosaur, a Barbie house and a merry-go-round," she said. "We went into the Barbie house and saw a lot of Barbies."

At the taping on Nov. 17, Banks talked about the beauty of diversity and what Princess Tiana--the ninth Disney princess--could mean to young African-American girls.

Kimani, who has occasionally donned a blond wig while dressing up as Cinderella, said it's nice to see a princess who resembles her.

"Tyra said I wear my hair just like Princess Tiana, in a puff ball like her," said Kimani, who was also excited that both she and Banks wore pink on the show.

Banks asked each of the girls what she thought about Princess Tiana, then addressed their mothers, each of whom had struggled financially over the last year.

Both Smith and her husband, Kenny, lost their jobs in the same month last year, and making ends meet had been difficult, Smith said.

The trip to New York was a nice break from all that. But Banks had more in store for them all.

Turning to her guests, she announced that they needed to pack because they were leaving for an all-expense-paid trip to Disney World.

"I didn't know she was gonna say we're gonna go to Disney World," said Kimani, who, like the other little girls, shrieked. "I was happy."

'VIP TREATMENT'

Kimani's first trip to Disney also included her first ride on an airplane.

"I wasn't scared at all on the plane," she said. "I love to look out the window."

In Orlando, she enjoyed the company of other princesses. There, Jasmine offered her a magic carpet ride, Belle gave out hugs, and Snow White let each of the girls make a wish in her private wishing well.

"The bestest princess I like is Princess Tiana because she let us come to her tea party," said Kimani, imitating Tiana's musical New Orleans accent. "'Ya'll want to come to my tea party?'"

Since they were the guests of honor, Kimani and her new friends stopped first at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Cinderella's Castle for a makeover.

By the time they arrived at the party, they were covered in fairy dust and each sported a formal Tiana dress, a sparkly tiara and a wand.

Some of the 50 or 60 other little girls attending the party actually asked Kimani and her cohorts for autographs.

"They were all screaming at the tea party. It hurt my ears," she said. "Well, I was screaming too."

The girls enjoyed cookies, hot chocolate and berry tarts alongside Princess Tiana and her beau, Prince Naveen.

"Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen made those snacks," said Kimani. "She loves to sing, she loves to dance, and she loves to cook."

It's hard for Kimani to pinpoint the highlight of the trip: the Mickey Mouse-shaped waffles at the hotel, the Animal Kingdom safari, the rides, the princesses and the new friends she made are all jockeying for position.

Plus, everywhere she went, cameras and microphones followed, recording the entire experience for "The Tyra Banks Show" audience.

In the end, she said, the princess lifestyle was almost overwhelming. She was happy to fly home to Stafford--she missed her dad and her two brothers. And she couldn't wait to tell all her school friends about her adventure.

"Even people in the fourth grade said, 'I saw you on the Tyra show,'" said Kimani, who plans to see Princess Tiana on the big screen this weekend.

Her mother praised Tyra Banks, her staff and the folks at Disney for making the girls feel so special.

She said things have improved for her family since last year. Her husband is working again, and she's got a part-time job during the holidays, though she's looking for something more permanent in the human resources field.

But the recent trip with her daughter, Smith said, was nothing short of amazing.

"It was an experience I couldn't have given her," Smith said. "It was top-of-the-line, VIP treatment the whole time."

Edie Gross: 540/374-5428
Email: egross@freelancestar.com