( CNN ) -- Move over Pocahontas and Mulan . Sofia estÃ¡ aquÃ­ . Disney 's first Latina princess , featured in the movie `` Sofia the First : Once Upon A Princess , '' has received backlash as well as support from media outlets , especially the Latino community . Is Disney 's new princess a milestone for Latinos or a culturally irrelevant character ? Disney 's spokeswoman provided a recent statement to CNN to help clarify what exactly makes `` Princess Sofia '' Latina : . `` The range of characters in 'Sofia the First ' -- and the actors who play them -- are a reflection of Disney 's commitment to diverse , multicultural and inclusive storytelling , and the wonderful early reaction to 'Sofia ' affirms that commitment . In the story , Sofia 's mother , Queen Miranda , was born in a fictitious land , Galdiz , a place with Latin influences . Miranda met Sofia 's father , Birk Balthazar , who hailed from the kingdom of Freezenberg , and together they moved to Enchancia , where Sofia was born . '' `` Sofia the First '' is a television movie and series set to debut November 18 on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior , aimed at children ages 2-7 . Sofia is a regular little girl whose life changes when her mother marries the king . Ariel Winter from `` Modern Family '' will voice Sofia and Sara Ramirez from `` Grey 's Anatomy '' will voice Queen Miranda . When news first hit in December 2011 that Disney was going to introduce its new and much younger princess , there was no mention of Sofia 's Latina background , let alone that her mother was from `` a place with Latin influences , '' until this week . Yet this week , Disney announced that Sofia was indeed Latina . As reported by Entertainment Weekly , a blogger on a press tour of the movie 's production offices asked why Sofia 's mother , Miranda , had a darker complexion than the other characters . That led to the big reveal : `` She is Latina , '' said Jamie Mitchell , executive producer . According the the vice president of Disney Junior original programming , `` We never actually call it out . '' `` It 's sort of a matter-of-fact situation rather than an overt thing . '' However , this is n't the first time there is controversy surrounding one of Disney 's princesses . In 2009 , `` The Princess and the Frog '' received criticism from parents and the media for being set in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina , its voodoo references and Disney 's first African-American princess , Tiana , falling in love with a Caucasian prince . Most agree Princess Tiana was a step in the right direction , but many said there was still work to be done . Some Latinos applauded Disney 's new milestone and welcomed her with open arms on Twitter stating , `` # Disney comes out with its first `` # Latina Princess . '' Its about time . It is 2012 . # Hispanics '' and `` # Disney finally comes out with a # Latina princess '' Some criticized what they saw as a lack of cultural signifiers or ethnic identity in the Sofia character . `` If Disney were truly to finally step out and directly cater to the Latino community that has been crying out for decades for a Latina princess to represent our girls , '' said Ana Flores , blogger for Spanglishbaby , `` She would be as Latina as Tiana is black or as Pocahontas is Indian-American . '' Alex Nogales , president and CEO for the National Hispanic Media Coalition , a nonprofit organization that promotes Latino equality in the entertainment industry , believes the Latino community needs more heroes right now that are very identifiable . `` Latinos are taking the blame for everything that is wrong with America . This is not a time to pussyfoot around . If you 're going to promote this to the public , and Latinos in particular , do us a favor and make it a real Latina . '' What you do n't know about Latinos in America .
`` Disney the first : Once Upon A Princess '' has received backlash as well as support . `` It 's sort of a matter-of-fact situation rather than an overt thing , '' a Disney official says . Some Disney applauded Disney 's new milestone on Sofia the First . Latinos 's decision to not emphasize Sofia 's ethnicity has received criticism too .