History Main / TomboyPrincess

* Princess Yuzu from ''{{Franchise/Anpanman}}''. She's skilled in using a spear in combat and loves to get out of her castle to just have fun, avoiding her duties whenever she can. The only problem is she's very tiny, she's able to ride a pigeon as a steed, so she's an easy target. Also on the show is Princess Salad. She hates her duties and wants to explore so much that she created the persona of Prince Salad, so she can leave the castle without suspicion.

* ComicBook/{{Starfire}} from ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'' is a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy warrior]] princess.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'':

* ''VideoGame/{{Recettear}}'': It's implied that [[spoiler:[[CoolBigSis Charme the Thief]]]] of all people is [[FallenPrincess the heir to the throne of a fallen kingdom]] [[spoiler:[[HardDrinkingPartyGirl known for its booze]].]]

* ''WebComic/PrincessPrincess'': Princess Amira has a mohawk, wears a military uniform, wields a sword and rescues people as a wandering hero.

* Depending on the episode, Princess Bubblegum in ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''. It's especially seen in the comics tie-ins, like ''Comicbook/AdventureTimeMarcelineAndTheScreamQueens'', where she actually leaves Finn to rule the Candy Kingdom in her stead to accompany Marceline as she's touring.

* [[UsefulNotes/HMTheQueen Elizabeth II]] seems to have had elements of this when she insisted on joining the Army during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and became a mechanic and truck driver. As it is, she is the ''only'' remaining head of state who is a vet of that war. Her Majesty [[GirlinessUpgrade eventually became much more]] of a GirlyGirlWithATomboyStreak in her later years.

* [[UsefulNotes/HMTheQueen Elizabeth II]] seems to have had elements of this when she insisted on joining the Army during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and became a mechanic and truck driver. As it is, she is the ''only'' remaining head of state who is a vet of that war. Her Majesty eventually became much more of a GirlyGirlWithATomboyStreak in her later years.

* [[UsefulNotes/HMTheQueen Elizabeth II]] seems to have had elements of this when she insisted on joining the Army during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and became a mechanic and truck driver. As it is, she is the ''only'' remaining head of state who is a vet of that war. Her daughter Princess Anne was an Olympic-level equestrian in her youth. Anne's daughter Zara Phillips has taken up riding as well, participating in the London Olympic Games.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInTheTwelveDancingPrincesses'', the princesses Delia and Edeline excel at sports, Blair is an accomplished equestrian who is [[UnkemptBeauty unperturbed at getting mud on her dress]], and Janessa has a passion for finding and collecting bugs.

%%* ''TheSmurfs'' Princess Savina.

* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series' Daisy ditches the DamselInDistress trope after her debut in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'', becoming a tomboy princess in ''VideoGame/MarioTennis''. So much, in fact, that her only ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' trophy is part of the ''VideoGame/MarioStrikers Charged'' series (which also includes Mario and a [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry Kritter]], who have trophies of their normal versions). She ''does'' have a sticker depicting her usual attire, but it is shared with Peach, so it is not a solo sticker.

** As the series moved on to the Wii U and beyond however, portrayals of Daisy [[CharacterizationMarchesOn started to shed]] [[GirlinessUpgrade most of her]] tomboy traits and place [[TomboyWithAGirlyStreak greater emphasis]] on her femininity, with Daisy [[WhenSheSmiles smiling]] a lot more and doing more feminine poses. For instance, in ''Smash Bros. Brawl'' sequel, ''Super Smash Bros for the [=WiiU=]/3DS'', Daisy's trophy has her back in her standard PimpedOutDress. And games like ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' puts Daisy back into the DamselInDistress role for the first time since her first appearance. While still a very energetic girl, it isn't immediately apparent that Daisy is a tomboy unless viewers have [[InformedAttribute already been told about it]].

** Take note that as the series moved on to the Wii U and beyond however, portrayals of Daisy [[CharacterizationMarchesOn started to shed]] [[GirlinessUpgrade most of her]] tomboy traits and place [[TomboyWithAGirlyStreak greater emphasis]] on her femininity. For instance, in ''Smash Bros. Brawl'' sequel, ''Super Smash Bros for the [=WiiU=]/3DS'', Daisy's trophy has her back in her standard yellow gown. And games like ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' puts Daisy back into the DamselInDistress role for the first time since her first appearance. While still a very energetic girl, nowadays it really isn't apparent that Daisy is a tomboy unless viewers [[InformedAttribute already been told about it]].

* In ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'', Catarina Claes is a confirmed Tomboy Noblewoman, who loves to climb trees, practices swordfighting (though she's not very good at it), works a small crop field (ostensibly as an exercise to hone her earth magic), and keeps her fiancé on his toes by throwing an imitation snake at him. She's also extremely friendly, caring, and down to earth, which have caused several of her peers ([[EvenTheGirlsWantHer of both genders]]) to fall in love with her. Catarina is actually a reincarnated otome-game otaku who knows from past experience that she's destined to become the only villain in the game to get no happy endings, and most of her behavior is part of an elaborate BatmanGambit to avoid the titular "destruction flags" - the events that will trigger the bad endings - or, failing that, at least help her survive the worst possibilities. The ''original'' Catarina was very much a haughty AlphaBitch.

[[folder:Comics]]

[[folder:Religion and Mythology]]

* ''WebComic/PrincessPrincess'': Princess Amira. She has a mohawk, wears a military uniform, wields a sword and rescues people as a wandering hero.

* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy'' has Aravis Tharkeena, who upgrades from a Tomboy Noblewoman to a TomboyPrincess when she [[spoiler:marries Shasta aka Crown Prince Cor.]] Lucy The Valiant is a Tomboy ''Queen'' [[TomboyWithAGirlyStreak with some traces of girliness]] who is good at archery and acts like a CoolBigSis to Aravis when they meet. The femininity and [[MartialPacifist reluctance to openly fight unless it's truly needed]] are for her older, wiser, quieter sister, [[LadyOfWar Queen Susan]] [[TheOjou the Gentle.]]

** Princess Mithian is exactly ''half'' this trope. On the one hand, she enjoys outdoor pursuits, especially hunting. She's also pretty damn good at [[{{Gasshole}} burping]]. On the other hand, she is always immaculately groomed and dressed. TomboyPrincess in spirit + ProperLady in conduct and appearance = TomboyWithAGirlyStreak.

* ''Webcomic/{{Oglaf}}:'' [[http://www.oglaf.com/pea/1/ This strip]] takes the RebelliousPrincess trope and melds it with TomboyPrincess in an amusingly NSFW way.

There are many reasons for this trope. A ''very'' [[DoubleStandard unfortunate one]] is that {{Tomboy}}s are depicted as "better" than {{Girly Girl}}s. This might be because MostWritersAreMale, or because female writers project their issues with femininity on their writing, or because there's a need for role models, or because RealWomenDontWearDresses, but either way it seems to be a way of saying, "See, our Princess is a role model for modern girls! She's ''not'' girly like the stupid and shallow princesses from the past, she's ''better''!" Expect there to be several girly traditional Princesses for [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl contrast]]. Occasionally both the Tomboy and the Girly Princess might learn to appreciate each other in spite of their differences. In these types of uses the Tomboy Princess is used to tell AnAesop about gender roles. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This isn't necessarily a bad thing]], as long as it doesn't [[WriterOnBoard overwhelm the character and story]].

These are the most common forms of the Tomboy Princess, but there are other uses. For example, a Princess might be made a Tomboy so as to make her more down-to-earth than the rest of the nobles. In this case the focus is more on class roles rather than gender roles.

** ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'': Maria Louise is a rather interesting case. She looks the part of a [[PrincessClassic girly princess]], but it take about one episode to figure out that that mask hides a very [[PluckyGirl determined]] {{Tomboy}}, willing to risk her life to help her friends and KnightInShiningArmor if needed.

* Princess Yuzu from ''{{Franchise/Anpanman}}''. She skilled in using a spear in combat, and loves to get out of her castle to just have fun, avoiding her duties whenever she can. The only problem is she's very tiny, she's able to ride a pigeon as a steed, so she's an easy target. Also on the show is Princess Salad. She hates her duties and wants to explore so much that she created the persona of Prince Salad, so she can leave the castle without suspicion.

* In ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'', Catarina Claes is a confirmed Tomboy Noblewoman, who loves to climb trees, practices swordfighting (though she's not very good at it), works a small crop field (ostensibly as an exercise to hone her earth magic), and keeps her fiancé on his toes by throwing an imitation snake at him. She's also extremely friendly, caring and down to earth, which have caused several of her peers (of both genders) to fall in love with her. Catarina is actually a reincarnated otome-game otaku who knows from past experience that she's destined to become the only villain in the game to get no happy endings, and most of her behavior is part of an elaborate BatmanGambit to avoid the titular "destruction flags" - the events that will trigger the bad endings - or, failing that, at least help her survive the worst possibilities. The ''original'' Catarina was very much a haughty AlphaBitch.

* ''WesternAnimation/StrangeMagic'': Princess Marianne who used to be more of a {{Princess Classic}}. After finding out her fiancee was cheating on her the day of her wedding, becomes a pants wearing, sword wielding {{Action Girl}}. Interestingly, as part of her transformation, she also starts wearing blue eyeliner, making her a {{Tomboy with A Girly Streak}}.

* In ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', all the princesses, by default. This is a world where gentleness, needlework and beautiful walking robes are for ''men''. The princesses go and chase bandits.

** And in ''Literature/TheGoldenDreamOfCarloChuchio'' except she's an innkeeper's daughter not a princess.

* While Sorcha in ''Literature/DaughterOfTheForest'' is traditionally Feminine in the sense of being "caring and motherly" rather then "ferocious and warlike" in nature, she prefers wandering in the woods with her brothers to being dressed up like a doll, and knows such things as surviving in a forest, identifying herbs, building fires, and how to avoid offending [[TheFairFolk guess who]].
* In Creator/WalterJonWilliams' ''Literature/DrakeMaijstral'' series, Roberta, the Duchess of Benn, is a top-ranked amateur racer, and can hold her own in a fight. She's also the owner of the famous Eltdown Shard, and a fan of Drake--despite the fact that she's fairly sure he plans to steal the Shard.
* ''Literature/ATasteOfHoney'': As the daughter of the Blessèd Femysade, Lucretia is a princess, but spends any free minute she can outside hunting or at her father's Menagerie, and her witch powers are also of the more hands-on nature, like moving big stones through telekinesis whenever needed for construction purposes.

* ''Series/DowntonAbbey'': Sybil is a Tomboy Aristocrat, as she rebels against corsets, wears bloomers instead of dresses, trains as a nurse and prefers hanging out in the garage with the chauffeur than attending fancy parties. Edith also develops this in Season 2 as she learns to drive and helps with farmwork.

** In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]'', Lyndis aka Lyn is this ''and'' TheChiefsDaughter, since her mom was a Lycian princess and her dad was the chieftain of the Lorca tribe.
** Same goes to Sue, a HorseArcher and the princess of the Kutolah tribe in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]'' (who ''may'' be Lyn's daughter, if you paired her up with Sue's dad Rath in the prequel). Double if she falls for Roy and marries him, since their common ending mentions how the Lycian nobles look at Sue kinda weirdly for being a tomboyish and free-spirited Duchess of Pherae.

** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'': A Gossip Stone claims that she's one, which is something that, if kept in mind, makes [[SweetPollyOliver a certain reveal]] later on less surprising. There's also Princess Ruto, who has a tomboyish attitude towards Link when he tries to rescue her, but in the future she behaves in a more affectionate way.

** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]''. Zelda acts a little girly sometimes, but is a lot more assertive and HotBlooded after taking over a Phantom for the first time. She's more than willing to help Link on his quest.
** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathofTheWild Breath of the Wild]]''. She is an aspiring AdventurerArchaeologist researching the LostTechnology of ancient Hyrule who is more commonly shown wearing a ModestRoyalty outfit with pants than a dress, and isn't afraid to get dirty handling things in the wilderness, to the point of excitedly picking up a frog and trying to get Link to eat it.

* Criosa in the ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' mod series The Aielund Saga is a princess and the heir to the throne of Aielund, and is also a wizard/rogue of a level on par with your character and runs around in pants with a sword more often than not.

* Marle of ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' is a princess, sheltered by an over-protective father and encouraged to be a ProperLady… who runs away from home to have fun, wields a crossbow (and later, magic) and breaks pretty much every rule of lady-like etiquette generally. Her tomboyish actions even make her the talk of the Millennial Fair.

* [[http://www.samuraiprincess.com Samurai Princess's]] star and name sake is one of these.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Disenchantment}}'' has Princess Tiabeanie, or Bean for short. She's rebellious, doesn't mind getting her hands dirty at times and loves to fight and [[TheAlcoholic drink]].

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina,_Queen_of_Sweden Christina]], [[UsefulNotes/NotableSwedishMonarchs Queen of Sweden]], who [[YouGoGirl took up traditionally-masculine hobbies and interests (like fencing, shooting and alchemy)]], [[WholesomeCrossdresser dressed]] and [[OneOfTheBoys behaved like one of the guys]] -- and associated with them in a manner considered inappropriate for her time, and, of course, was suspected to have both male and female lovers, but [[CelibateHero never married]]. Invoked by her father, Gustavus Adolphus, who ordered that his sole heir be [[RaisedAsTheOppositeGender raised as a prince]], and possibly complicated by the allegations of AmbiguousGender raised at her birth.

* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series' Daisy ditches the DamselInDistress trope after her debut in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' before becoming a tomboy princess in ''VideoGame/MarioTennis'', pictured at the top of the page, is described as a tomboy within the series. So much, in fact, that her only ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' trophy is part of the ''VideoGame/MarioStrikers Charged'' series (which also includes Mario and a [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry Kritter]], who have trophies of their normal versions). She ''does'' have a sticker depicting her usual attire, but it is shared with Peach, so it is not a solo sticker.

* The ''Franchise/StarWars'' series. Princess Leia Organa, of course, volunteers for commando missions, eventually being promoted to the rank of General of the Army of the Galactic Republic, and also of the Rebellion that helped restore it and works alongside it against the First Order.
* Princess Series/{{Fantaghiro}}.

* Several Medieval European Noblewomen had this characteristic to some degree. Someone had to take care of the castle while all the knights were busy killing each other, including its armed defense when necessary. At least one Arab visitor commented on how forward Western women were.

* Ozma from ''Anime/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''. Despite it being [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by [[spoiler:Tip/Ozma undergoing a GenderBender]], the original books and most other versions of the series completely avert this.

* Depending on the episode, Princess Bubblegum in ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''. It's especially seen in the comics tie-ins, like ''Comicbook/MarcelineAndTheScreamQueens'', where she actually leaves Finn to rule the Candy Kingdom in her stead to accompany Marceline as she's touring.

* ''Literature/BridgeToTerabithia'' has Leslie who's the only girl wearing cut-offs and a t-shirt, wants to run with the boys and finds a space outside that can be the land of Terabithia. She will be its queen and her friend will be its king. She's an imaginary tomboy queen, but still.

[[caption-width-right:300:Daisy's [[UsefulNotes/AmericanAccents contemporary vernacular]], at-least-always-stronger-than-Peach [[ShortTank strength]], [[FieryRedhead hair]] to match, and of course, [[PrincessesPreferPink not pink colors]], are all indications that she is not the [[PrincessClassic girly princess]].]]

* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series' Daisy ditches the DimselInDistress trope after her debut in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' before becoming a tomboy princess in ''VideoGame/MarioTennis'', pictured at the top of the page, is described as a tomboy within the series. So much, in fact, that her only ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' trophy is part of the ''VideoGame/MarioStrikers Charged'' series (which also includes Mario and a [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry Kritter]], who have trophies of their normal versions). She ''does'' have a sticker depicting her usual attire, but it is shared with Peach, so it is not a solo sticker.

* ''VideoGame/YesYourGrace'': Asalia, the PlayerCharacter's middle daughter. She's dismissive of most typical pricess activities and prefers learning how to use swords and a bow. [[spoiler:Her possible girlfriend Maya]], who's a full-on ActionGirl, qualifies as well, depending on the extent to which her father is considered a King (he holds the title, but it's not quite official).

* ''VideoGame/YesYourGrace'': Asalia, the PlayerCharacter's middle daughter. She's dismissive of most typical pricess activities and prefers learning how to use swords and a bow. [[spoiler:Her possible girlfriend Maya]] qualifies as well, depending on the extent to which her father is considered a King (he holds the title, but it's not quite official).