Asha

Protect the Wishing Star and return it back to its rightful place (all succeeded)

## Performers

### Voice

Ariana DeBose

So I make this wish...To have something more for us than this!—Asha singing "This Wish", *Wish*

**Asha** is the main protagonist in Disney's 2023 animated feature film *Wish*. She is a witty and optimistic 17-year-old girl from the kingdom of Rosas who sees a darkness in her kingdom that no one else can see and whose impassioned plea brings down an actual star. Together with her pet goat, Valentino, they embark on an epic adventure among the stars through various worlds.

## Personality

Asha is a sharp-witted, idealistic young girl and leader in the making who makes an impassioned wish towards the stars after discovering a dark truth surrounding her king and would do whatever it takes to stop him. She is also quite disappointed to find that King Magnifico has been hoarding wishes from Rosas' citizens and that he only grants those that are to his benefit, encouraging him to grant the wishes his subjects deserve, only for him to angrily dismiss her.

## Appearances

### Wish

#### Past

Asha was born the only child to an unnamed Philosopher & a woman named Sakina in the Kingdom of Rosas, when she was young, her father would take her to a special tree on a cliff just outside the main city. Where they would gaze up at the stars together every night, and he would give advice saying that "the stars are there to guide us, to inspire us, to remind us to believe in possibility". Though sadly, her father would pass away after from unknown illness, leaving her under the care of her mother & grandfather Sabino.

Growing up, she would become a tour-guide to visitors coming to Rosas. While also working at the castle of Rosas' founder & ruler King Magnifico, while also becoming fast friends with some other staff member including Magnifico's wife Queen Amaya, it was also during that time that she also adopts a baby goat who she names Valentino.

#### Present

Magnifico had thwarted her friends heist before grabbing her & reeling her up to force her to watch as he ruthlessly absorbs Star, and to add more karma to her, he covers the whole kingdom in darkness to ensure no one would ever wish on the stars ever again. Though it would have seemed that Magnifico had won, Asha, while restrained, calls on the people of Rosas for help in stopping him, the same goes with Dahlia and Amaya & pretty soon, the whole kingdom start singing & despite Magnifico trying to stop them, Asha manages to channel all the magic from everyone, frees Star, & traps Magnifico inside his own staff.

With Magnifico defeated, his spell powers down as a new day dawns over the kingdom, with the citizens, Asha's mother included, are able to get their wishes back, afterwards, Asha is soon confronted by a regretful Simon who understands if she doesn't forgive, but she does forgive him as she understands why he did it. As for Magnifico, he is still trapped inside the mirror that was made into his staff. And Amaya locks it away in the dungeons as she becomes the sole ruler of Rosas.

After saving Rosas, it's citizens develop a newfound appreciation of pursuing them, but upon learning that Star will be returning to the heavens soon, Asha is gifted a brand new Magic Wand & with urging from her loved ones, Asha promises Star to continue helping others earn their wishes as a Fairy Godmother, aiding everyone in making their dreams come true.

### Once Upon a Studio

In the short, Asha joins in on singing "When You Wish Upon a Star" with Snow White and Fa Mulan, then sings the last line with all the Disney characters as the group photo is successfully taken for Disney's 100th anniversary.

## Powers and Abilities

### Powers

**Magic:** The star gave Asha a magic wand, granting the girl magical powers that she channels through it, becoming a Fairy Godmother.

## Trivia

* Asha's name is intended to use the Arabic meaning, "Alive and Well". Since she's partially of North African ancestry.
* She made her debut in the short *Once Upon a Studio* before her movie came out.
* Her design is very similar to Chel from Dreamworks's *The Road to El Dorado*.
* Asha's name presumably comes from the Sanskrit "आशा" (āśā), which means "desire", "wish", or "hope."
* She is the first and only character in Once Upon a Studio to debut before the movie.
* Asha is Disney's first Afro-Latina heroine.