When people talk about the "reboot" season of Once Upon a Time, the vibes are usually... mixed. You’ve got the die-hard fans who missed Storybrooke and the newer crowd who actually dug the Seattle rain and the Hyperion Heights grit. But there is one thing almost everyone agrees on: Mekia Cox in Once Upon a Time was a total breath of fresh air.
Playing Princess Tiana wasn't just another gig for her. It was a moment. Honestly, it was a "full circle" situation that felt destined, especially when you look at her history with the Mouse House.
The Dream That Almost Wasn't
Let’s get real for a second. Mekia Cox didn't just show up to an audition and hope for the best. She grew up in Orlando. She was literally a "Kid of the Kingdom" at Disney World when she was seven years old.
She spent her childhood dancing on the stage at Magic Kingdom. She’s gone on record saying she always thought, "Okay, when I turn sixteen, I’m coming back to be a Disney Princess." But then reality hit. At the time, there was no Black Disney Princess. There was no role for her to step into.
When The Princess and the Frog dropped in 2009, she wasn't just happy as an actress; she was happy for the little girls who finally saw themselves. Cut to 2017, and she’s the one actually wearing the tiara. It’s the kind of meta-narrative that makes the show's "believe in magic" tagline feel less like a marketing gimmick and more like a life lesson.
Tiana vs. Sabine: The Hustle is Real
In the seventh season, the show pulled its classic double-identity move. In the New Enchanted Forest, she was Tiana. In cursed Seattle, she was Sabine.
Most people remember Tiana from the movie as a girl who just wanted a restaurant. Once Upon a Time upped the stakes. They made her a rebel leader.
- Tiana (The Hero): She wasn't just waiting for a prince; she was leading a literal resistance against Lady Tremaine. She was a warrior with a sword, which is a far cry from just making beignets.
- Sabine (The Cursed Version): This is where Mekia really shined. Sabine was the "modern millennial" struggling to make rent. She was optimistic but grounded. She and Jacinda (Cinderella) were roommates just trying to survive in a city that felt rigged against them.
The chemistry between Mekia Cox and Dania Ramirez was one of the highlights of the season. They weren't just "Disney friends"; they felt like real women dealing with real-world problems, even if those problems were technically caused by a magical curse.
Why the Fans (And Critics) Noticed
Let’s be honest: Season 7 had some heavy lifting to do. Most of the original cast—Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Jennifer Morrison—had left. The show was trying to prove it could survive a massive reset.
Critics often pointed out that while some plotlines felt a bit recycled, Mekia Cox’s Tiana was a standout. She brought a specific energy that the show needed—a mix of "I’m going to save the world" and "I really need this food truck to work."
The Dr. Facilier Connection
One of the best parts of her arc was the introduction of Dr. Facilier (played by Daniel Francis). In the movie, he’s a straight-up villain. In the show, the relationship was way more complicated. There was history there. There was a weird, manipulative tension that kept you guessing.
And then there was Prince Naveen. When Jeff Pierre showed up as Drew/Naveen, the show finally gave Tiana her romantic payoff, but it didn't feel unearned. It wasn't just a "love at first sight" trope; it was built on a shared struggle in both the magical and cursed worlds.
Life After the Bayou
If you’re wondering where you’ve seen her since she hung up the crown, you’ve probably been watching The Rookie. Mekia moved from playing a princess to playing Nyla Harper, a high-stakes undercover detective.
It’s a wild shift in tone, but you can see the "Tiana" DNA in Nyla. Both characters are leaders. Both are fiercely protective. Both have that "don't mess with me" edge hidden under a layer of professional competence.
She also spent years as Dr. Robin Charles on Chicago Med. Fun fact: she was actually filming both Once Upon a Time and Chicago Med at the same time for a while. That’s a level of hustle that Tiana herself would definitely respect.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a common misconception that Season 7 of Once Upon a Time is "the one to skip."
If you do that, you’re missing out on the best live-action version of Tiana we’ve ever had. Mekia didn't just play a character; she built a legacy. She took a role that could have been a 2D caricature and gave it heart, grit, and a sword.
She proved that you don't need a Prince Charming to be the protagonist of your own story. Sometimes, you just need a rebellion to lead and a really good recipe for beignets.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans:
- Watch Season 7 for the characters, not just the lore. If you focus too much on how it fits with Season 1, you'll get a headache. Just enjoy the ride.
- Look for the "Easter Eggs." The show creators, Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis, packed Tiana’s episodes with nods to the original Disney film—keep an eye out for the red medal and the cooking references.
- Follow Mekia’s current work. If you loved her as Sabine, her performance in The Rookie is mandatory viewing to see her full range as an actor.
The legacy of Mekia Cox in Once Upon a Time is a reminder that representation isn't just about showing up—it's about taking up space, swinging a sword, and making sure the world knows you're exactly where you're supposed to be.