Brandy Norwood is turning 42 just in time for her most-loved film, "Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella," to drop on Disney Plus. 

In 1997, Brandy Norwood and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/palace-whitney-houston-charity-capsule" target="_blank">Whitney Houston</a> redefined the timeless tale of Rodgers and Hammerstein&#39;s&nbsp;Cinderella in the second-ever film remake of Charles Perrault&#39;s renowned story. Brandy&#39;s role of Cinderella&nbsp;held an immense amount of cultural significance, as she was the first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/black-designers-fashion-history-virgil-abloh-telfar-clemens" target="_blank">Black</a> actress to portray a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/stars-you-forgot-were-on-disney-channel" target="_blank">Disney</a> princess on film. Her visibility, alongside a number of other actors of color, fought back against&nbsp;the belief that fairytales were only applicable to those who looked like the original characters. The television film was produced by and stars Houston as the fairy godmother, and includes&nbsp;the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Paolo Montalb&aacute;n.&nbsp;

Cinderella&nbsp;garnered a record-breaking 60 million views for Disney&#39;s network and went on to win an Emmy in 1998. The film&#39;s immense success set the precedent that diverse casts are extremely valuable, especially within the realm of&nbsp;fairytales. To update the original story, writer Robert L. Freedman incorporated more modern themes and made Brandy&#39;s Cinderella more independent, not just a damsel in distress waiting for prince charming. While the more feminist retelling received mixed reviews at first, it ultimately became a hit that continues to resonate with young audiences today.&nbsp;Brandy&#39;s role proves that the story of&nbsp;Cinderella has&nbsp;so much potential to be retold. Her rendition of the traditional tale paved the way for singers like <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/camila-cabello-style" target="_blank">Camilla Cabello</a>, who is starring in the upcoming 2021 remake,&nbsp;to take on the role in new and creative ways.&nbsp;In celebration of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/movies-by-black-directors-black-history-month" target="_blank">Black History Month</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/disney-plus-movies-streaming-now" target="_blank">Disney Plus</a> will be adding the two hour-long film to its site&nbsp;&quot;at the stroke of midnight&quot; on Friday, February 12, 2021.&nbsp;

Brandy&#39;s strides within the industry are not exclusive to her role as Cinderella. The Mississippi-born&nbsp;singer has a total of seven studio albums and shows no signs of stopping. She has accumulated a number of accolades&nbsp;for her&nbsp;talent including an American Music Award, a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/grammy-nominated-artists-to-know-2021" target="_blank">Grammy</a>, and seven Billboard Music Awards. Moreover, she has sold over 40 million records worldwide and continues to be praised for her unique vocal style which is prone to&nbsp;hit-making. Her music has inspired major artists such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/ariana-grande-hairstyles-iconic-decade-2010s" target="_blank">Arianna Grande</a>, Jessie J, and JoJo. In addition to her musical talent, the star&#39;s <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gen-z-y2k-millennial-90s-fashion-nostalgia" target="_blank">Y2K</a> style continues to inspire.&nbsp;

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On Brandy&#39;s&nbsp;42nd birthday, join L&#39;OFFICIEL in celebrating her role in the world&#39;s most-loved version of Cinderella as well as the ultra-successful career she has foraged as a singer. Her influence as a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/black-owned-fashion-brands-to-support" target="_blank">Black woman</a> in the music and entertainment&nbsp;industry is long-lived and continually cherished, as she exemplifies what it means to give visibility to those who need it most.&nbsp;Brandy&#39;s career is far from over, but here are some of her best moments.&nbsp;

How Brandy Revolutionized the Role of Cinderella

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