Once upon a time in the faraway town of Searcy, Ark., junior Jessica Davis received a wish of a lifetime: a full-time job at Disney World.
Jessica Davis, her parents and her three sisters traveled together to Disney World for Christmas. On a whim, sisters Monica, Jessica and Amy Davis, who all had no experience or training, decided to participate in a character audition.
The first steps of the audition included learning and performing two eight-counts of the remix of “It’s a Small World After All.” The second round was a character movement audition and, in the final audition round, contestants were put into full character costumes and make-up. Finally, the judges narrowed their choices from hundreds of hopefuls to the top talent.
Jessica Davis remained.
After leaving the audition at Disney, Jessica Davis stayed in contact with the recruiters. She received emails letting her know her status in the selection process, created a profile on the hiring database and had a few phone interviews.
Jessica Davis said that her phone rang as soon as chapel dismissed on Jan. 24, and she received the offer for the full-time position as a princess.
“The whole rest of that morning was kind of a blur because I kept on running into people on campus who knew,” Jessica Davis said. “Word just travels so fast here.”
Living out the dreams of countless girls across the country, Jessica Davis will play the role of Merida from “Brave” and Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.”
According to Jessica Davis, she has had this dream for a long time. For a research paper senior year of high school, she and her classmates each had to write about their future careers. She said she did not have any concrete plans, so she wrote about becoming a Disney princess.
“In my wildest, craziest dreams, this is what I have always, always wanted to do, but it always seemed so untouchable,” Jessica Davis said.
Within a matter of a few days, Jessica Davis said she had to drop her classes, pack her room and say goodbye to her friends, all before beginning work at Disney on Feb. 1.
Jessica Davis said she plans to eventually finish up her Spanish degree. She said her family completely supports her choice.
“College, especially Harding, will always be here, but that opportunity (Disney Princess) won’t always be,” Jessica Davis’ sister Monica Davis said. “It’s just really good timing.”
Monica Davis said she will miss her sister, but that she knows her sister is perfect for the role of a princess because of her patience, her positive nature and her smile.
Jessica Davis said she took the opportunity because she feels that God clearly opened all of these doors for her.
“There is only a certain time in your life to do things like this and be spontaneous,” Jessica Davis said. “There is a small little window and this kind of fits in there perfectly.”
