The phrase "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" is famously associated with the Evil Queen in the story of Snow White. In the original 1937 Disney movie, this line was used to express the Queen's desire to be recognized as the most beautiful woman in the land, with "fairest" referring to outward beauty
. The magic mirror would confirm her beauty until it declared Snow White as the fairest, sparking the Queen's jealousy. The word "fair" historically meant beautiful or lovely, but over time it also came to signify light skin or paleness, which adds complexity to the phrase. Snow White's name and character emphasize her very pale complexion, linking "fairest" to both beauty and skin tone
. This dual meaning reflects changing cultural standards of beauty and the linguistic evolution of the word "fair." There is also some variation in the exact wording of the line in different versions of the story. While many remember "Mirror, mirror on the wall," the Disney film actually uses "Magic mirror on the wall," though "Mirror, mirror" appears in other versions and the original German tale
. In summary:
- The phrase is the Evil Queen's question to her magic mirror about who is the most beautiful (fairest) in the land
- "Fairest" originally meant most beautiful but also came to imply very pale skin, which fits Snow White's character
- The exact wording varies between "Mirror, mirror" and "Magic mirror" depending on the version
This phrase has become emblematic of the Snow White story and reflects both historical and cultural ideas about beauty.
