‘Becoming A Princess Saved My Life'

A TEEN who didn’t leave her bedroom for two years due to crippling anxiety believes dressing as a Disney princess saved her life.

HANNAH BARKER, 17, now performs in front of thousands of people every year as an array of cosplay characters in intricate costumes she designs herself – and even runs her own business. But for two years the teenager was housebound and couldn’t go to school or even come out of her bedroom without suffering from severe panic attacks, which she first developed aged six. 

The Disney obsessive’s first word was ‘Tigger’ and she has spent thousands of hours hand-making intricate ballgowns – despite the fact she will never be able to be an ‘official’ Disneyland princess due to the spinal condition scoliosis.