Princess Girl

Princess Girl (sometimes spelled Princess Gorl) is more than just a caiman in an off-the-rack David’s Bridal lace applique strapless wedding dress. She represents the slay-mama-boots-the-house-down queen in all of us. She is a state of mind. She is the reason for the season. Princess Girl is an icon. She is a Legend. And she is the moment.

The origins of Princess Girl came during the Coastal Counselor era of 2023. On July 12, 2023 during the morning announcements of episode 44 of The Camp Counselors podcast “Coastal Grandmother Era,” Jonathan read from a Yahoo! News article “Mexico: Mayor marries alligator-like reptile who he calls 'princess girl'" (previously titled: Mexican mayor weds reptile -- and couldn’t be happier!)

According to the article, a mayor in Mexico married a female alligator-like reptile (a caiman) in a traditional ceremony which is believed to bring good fortune to his people. Mayor Victor Hugo Sosa wed the caiman reptile named Alicia Adriana as he re-enacted an ancestral ritual. Marriage between a man and a female caiman has taken place there for 230 years to commemorate the peace between the Chontal and Huave indigenous groups. The mayor, representing the Chontal king, marries the reptile, symbolizing a Huave princess girl, in a union of the two communities. Local tradition calls the creature "princess girl" and the mayor said the pair "loved each other".

Before the ceremony, Princess Girl is carried from house to house so locals can hold her and dance. The reptile wears a green skirt, a colorful hand-embroidered tunic, and a headdress of ribbons and sequins. She is later dressed in a white bridal dress and taken to the local town hall for the wedding.

At Camp Shady Birch, we stand with Princess Girl against the patriarchy and any forms of animal abuse.