Setsu Shigematsu

Founder & Director

Setsu Shigematsu is an Associate Professor in the Media and Cultural Studies Department of University of California. She received her Ph.D. from Cornell University and was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. As a gender studies scholar and mother, Setsu was concerned with today’s overwhelming princess culture and how it is marketed to children. Given the powerful appeal of the ‘princess’ and how much it was influencing her own daughter, Setsu decided to alter the social meaning of the princess by writing Princess Terra for her daughter’s fifth birthday. Princess Terra recasts the princess as a protector and leader who works with others to stop conflict through non-violence.

Since 2013, Setsu has volunteered her time to establish the Guardian Princess Alliance. As the founder, her goal was to create more empowering, educational, and diverse fantasies for children and job opportunities for students to express their talent and help change the world. Setsu loves working with the GP team and with her daughter, Saya, to share and create the Guardian Princess stories.