Playing Belle in 'Beauty and the Beast' special helped H.E.R. 'embrace' her idea of 'femininity'

• H.E.R., 25, opened up to People about playing Belle in "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration" on Saturday. 
• The singer said that portraying the princess helped her embrace what "femininity" is to her. 
• "It was nice to discover something within myself I didn't know that I had," H.E.R. said to People.

Five-time Grammy winner H.E.R. opened up to People about playing Belle in Disney's"Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration" ABC special. The R&B singer is the first Black and Filipino person to portray the Disney princess, and H.E.R. says she learned a lot about herself during the process. 

"There are so many things that Belle has changed [about] me [in the] best ways — and just embracing what femininity is to me." H.E.R. said to People. "It was nice to discover something within myself I didn't know that I had, and that's the Disney princess."

H.E.R. is known for her signature sunglasses look and melodic R&B vocals, but this role allowed the "Damage" singer to step into the shoes of a Disney princess. 

"That was one of the most fun things I've ever done in my life but also one of the most challenging. It was so rewarding," she said to People. The singer, who's real name is Gabriella Wilson, also talked about challenging the Disney princess norm. 

"Being a Disney princess is really fun because I felt like I was challenging what it means to be a Disney princess, what a Disney princess looks like, where she comes from, her strength, being vulnerable," H.E.R. told the outlet. 

H.E.R. also opened up about the importance of representation when she took the stage. "[My vision] was to of course stay true to the character. But like I said, there's a strength in her that I wanted to bring out," she said. "I think me being Belle alone and looking the way that I do and coming from a Filipino and Black background was enough because it's a different face, it's a different representation for young girls to see."

"Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration" airs on ABC on December 15. H.E.R. stars as Belle alongside Josh Groban as the Beast, and Rita Moreno as the narrator.