You're Not a Princess': Catholic Prep School's Campaign Telling Girls 'Life's Not a Fairy Tale' Goes Viral

An all-girls Catholic prep school in Kentucky has a message for prospective and current students: "You're not a princess. Prepare for real life."

Mercy Academy in Louisville, Ky., has crafted the pointed proclamation in an effort to show young women that the fairy tales they grew up watching and reading aren't necessarily reality.

Rather than aspiring to be taken care of by a man, the campaign urges young women to stand on their own two feet.

One message says, "Don't wait for a prince, be able to rescue yourself."

Another contends, "Life's not a fairy tale."

Credit: Mercy Academy

The high school has taken its message for young women to buses, websites and billboards in an effort to catch the attention of parents and children alike.

Principal Amy Elstone told WLKY-TV that the message isn't a new one, but that it isn't articulated enough.

WLKY-TV has more:

"What we're saying is, 'You're not a princess, you're more,'" she explained. "This entire message is about empowering our young women."

While some are questioning whether the campaign embraces a feminist message, Elstone doesn't see it that way. Instead, she said the school is simply trying to prepare young women for the real world.

Credit: Mercy Academy

"As a Catholic institution, our foundress, Catherine McAuley, focused on education as a way of empowerment, self-sustainability, and independence," Elstone told HuffPost UK Lifestyle. "We believe in empowering young women to chart their own course in life."

The school is surprised by the national attention the campaign has commanded, but delighted that the message is getting out to the masses.

(H/T: WLKY-TV)

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Featured image credit: Mercy Academy 

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