Florida A&M University has long been a pipeline for excellence in music, performance, and culture\u2014and that legacy is now shining on one of Disney\u2019s most beloved characters.<\/p>\n
From the voice behind the original Princess Tiana to rising performers bringing the role to life on stage, FAMU alumnae continue to leave their mark on The Princess and the Frog legacy.<\/p>\n
Anika Noni Rose Set the Standard for Princess Tiana<\/p>\n
Before the stage adaptations and live performances, there was Anika Noni Rose.<\/p>\n
The FAMU alumna made history as the voice of Princess Tiana in Disney\u2019s 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog. Her performance not only introduced Disney\u2019s first Black princess but also set a high bar for authenticity, musical excellence, and cultural impact.<\/p>\n
Rose\u2019s portrayal remains a defining moment in Disney history\u2014and a source of pride for FAMU.<\/p>\n
Rae\u2019Kwan Bostic Continues the Tiana Legacy<\/p>\n
Now, another FAMU alumna is carrying that legacy forward.<\/p>\n
Rae\u2019Kwan Bostic, a graduate of FAMU\u2019s College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, is currently performing as Princess Tiana aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship\u2014bringing the character to life for new audiences in a live setting.<\/p>\n
Her journey reflects the same discipline and dedication that has defined so many FAMU performers.<\/p>\n
Built on a Foundation of Discipline<\/p>\n
Raised in a family deeply connected to FAMU\u2019s musical tradition, Bostic developed her work ethic early.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad taught me how to play saxophone originally,\u201d Bostic said, describing long summer days filled with structured practice and performance.<\/p>\n
At FAMU, she balanced multiple roles\u2014performing with the Jazz Band, serving as a song leader for the Marching \u201c100,\u201d and singing for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes discipline and practice,\u201d she said. \u201cI would be singing for about six to seven hours a day.\u201d<\/p>\n
From FAMU to Disney<\/p>\n
Bostic\u2019s path to Disney wasn\u2019t immediate.<\/p>\n
After graduating, she moved to Atlanta for regional theater before relocating to New York City, where she faced dozens of auditions and repeated rejection.<\/p>\n
\u201cI auditioned all last year\u2026 about 43 auditions from January to September,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a constant \u2018no, no, no.\u2019 But if you love what you do, you\u2019ll keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n
That persistence paid off when she landed the role of Princess Tiana\u2014an opportunity that pushed her beyond her comfort zone into full theatrical performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not much of a theater kid,\u201d she admitted. \u201cIt\u2019s not just singing, it\u2019s feeling the moment, being in character.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Full-Circle FAMU Moment<\/p>\n
For Bostic, portraying Tiana carries deeper meaning because of the connection to Anika Noni Rose.<\/p>\n
\u201cContinuing the legacy in all parts is just an honor,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s been very humbling and rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n
That connection highlights something bigger than individual success\u2014it underscores FAMU\u2019s ongoing influence in shaping Black excellence in entertainment.<\/p>\n
A Family Legacy of Excellence<\/p>\n
Bostic\u2019s story is also rooted in family.<\/p>\n
As one of eight siblings in a household led by two FAMU alumni parents, she grew up surrounded by music, discipline, and tradition.<\/p>\n
Her sister describes her as both humble and powerful.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is the most kind and gentle spirit, with a standard of excellence that doesn\u2019t falter,\u201d Jada Bostic said.<\/p>\n
Beyond the stage, she\u2019s also known as the \u201ckeeper of family recipes,\u201d preserving traditions passed down from previous generations.<\/p>\n
Inspiring the Next Generation<\/p>\n
Bostic hopes her journey encourages others\u2014especially young women\u2014to stay committed to their dreams.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want people to be fearless and go after what they want,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you see it down the road, keep chasing it and don\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her story, paired with Anika Noni Rose\u2019s groundbreaking role, shows that the path from FAMU to Disney is not just possible\u2014it\u2019s becoming a tradition.<\/p>\n
\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Florida A&M University has long been a pipeline for excellence in music, performance, and culture\u2014and that legacy is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":218555,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[15507,6859,1814,57176,11994,8295,99240,99241,11995,232,234,233,99242],"class_list":{"0":"post-218554","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tallahassee","8":"tag-anika-noni-rose","9":"tag-disney","10":"tag-famu","11":"tag-famu-marching-100","12":"tag-florida-am","13":"tag-marching-100","14":"tag-princess-tiana","15":"tag-raekwan-bostic","16":"tag-swac","17":"tag-tallahassee","18":"tag-tallahassee-headlines","19":"tag-tallahassee-news","20":"tag-the-princess-and-the-frog"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218554\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}