Catherine Laga’aia’s Stunning New ‘Moana’ Press Photos Are Winning Back Skeptical Fans
Catherine Laga’aia has spent the better part of two years stepping into one of the biggest roles a young actress could ask for. Disney first revealed the Sydney-born teenager as the star of its live action ‘Moana’ back in 2024, and ever since, the spotlight on her has only grown brighter as the film’s July 10 release creeps closer.
That spotlight intensified again this past week as Disney kicked the press tour into a higher gear, releasing the new soundtrack single “Along The Way” ahead of the full album drop later this month. Laga’aia herself once described the opportunity in an official statement released through Disney, saying she felt honored to represent Pacific Island communities and the young girls who look like her.
Now a fresh batch of press photos is giving fans their clearest look yet at the actress, and the internet has taken notice. The new images show Laga’aia in a profile heavy beauty shoot, her hair styled into a full cascade of natural curls and paired with soft, glowing makeup and a simple cream top that keeps all the attention on her face and hair.
The credits behind the look read like a full glam team effort, with hairstylist Coree Moreno using Oribe’s curl gloss line to define the texture, makeup handled separately, and styling and nail work rounding out the shoot. It is the kind of polished, character forward image Disney has been building toward as the film’s marketing ramps up.
What makes the timing especially notable is the contrast with where this conversation started. Back when the first ‘Moana’ trailer dropped in November, some fans online accused the production of straightening Laga’aia’s hair for the footage, arguing the animated Moana’s signature curls were part of what made the character feel authentic. These new press photos, by comparison, put her natural curl pattern front and center.
The film itself carries plenty of weight beyond Laga’aia’s individual moment. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, joined by John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, with Thomas Kail directing his first narrative feature after helming the filmed version of ‘Hamilton’. Lin-Manuel Miranda is back as well, producing and contributing new music alongside the original songs that made the 2016 film a worldwide phenomenon.
‘Moana’ arrives in theaters on July 10, landing exactly a decade after the original animated film first introduced audiences to Motunui. With the soundtrack rollout underway and press materials like these new photos generating real conversation, the lead up to release looks like it is only going to get louder from here.
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