While her younger brother Sidon is certainly a fan favorite, Princess Mipha is still a beloved character in the Zelda franchise and one of the most memorable figures in Breath Of The Wild. Her kind, sensitive demeanor, contrasted with all the heavy-hitters in the game, made her stand out - all the more so when it came to her love for the protagonist, Link.
But aside from what's on the surface, there was a lot of complexity to Mipha and her life that most players never get to see. Here are ten things they may have missed about the Zora princess.
Shorter Than Average
It's hard to tell when seeing her beside Zelda and Link, because by Hylian standards, she's not that short. But by Zora standards, she was certainly on the small side, standing at about 5'2 when most Zora girls tend to be at least 5'9.
Regardless of her height, she is certainly a role model for the Zora people!
Athletic
Mipha was mostly known for her meek nature and healing abilities, but when put to the test, the princess was actually quite skilled as an athlete. Her ability to glide up and down the waterfalls of Zora's Domain with ease were renowned throughout the kingdom, with many young Zora hoping to emulate her skill with a spear.
As well as this, she was the quickest Champion to attain mastery of her Divine Beast, Ruta. Like a fish to water, she took to piloting with ease, so much so that she even managed to impress Princess Zelda.
Beloved By Her People
Just being royalty isn't enough to earn the people's love, and in Mipha's case, it certainly wasn't the reason people adored her so. She was effortlessly kind and gentle, and knowing her, she probably healed anyone who asked without pressing for further details.
A princess like her is the epitome of a benevolent ruler, hence why she is so missed by her people. She would have made an excellent queen of the Zora, as evidenced by the fact that she came back one last time in spirit to speak to them through her trident and reassure them that it will all be okay.
Loner
Whether by choice or as a consequence of her nature, it doesn't seem like Mipha had any close friends beyond her family and advisors. While the kingdom remembers her fondly, there aren't any Zora citizens who mention spending time with her in any meaningful way as friends.
Thankfully, she found her people once she was chosen as a Champion, but even then, they only got to spend so much time together. Hopefully, wherever she is now, Mipha is happy with her friends, and able to live a carefree life with them.
Close To Family
This might seem like a no-brainer, considering how much her father and brother speak of her, but the depth of their familial relationship is truly astounding compared to some others in the game. Mipha's last words before setting up Divine Beast Ruta are how she wishes she could see her father one last time, which says a lot about her priorities in life.
As well as this, if players come to Zora's Domain at night, they can catch Sidon - normally energetic and easygoing - standing in front of her memorial statue, head bowed in mourning and lamenting how he wishes he could see her again.
Master Muzu
Many players were miffed by Royal Advisor Muzu's hostile attitude towards them upon reaching Zora's Domain, but if they pay attention and listen to everyone's backstories, they'll learn why. Muzu was Mipha's mentor, and he seemed to care for her like she was his own kin.
And Mipha seemed to love him just as much, although she did have to keep some things from him - like her affections for Link, and her plans to propose to him. Muzu was always a little prejudiced against Hylians, even before the Calamity, so it was probably difficult for her to be entirely herself around him.
Braver Than She Seems
As mentioned earlier, Zelda wasn't quite sure Mipha was up to the task of piloting Ruta initially. But just because a person is shy doesn't mean they can't be brave at the same time, and Mipha was one of the bravest of them all.
Even before being chosen as a Champion, Mipha followed Link up Mt. Ploymus to defeat the Lynel who'd been causing trouble for her people. She did so to help Link, even if melee combat was not her specialty. The truth is, Mipha will do anything for the people she cares for, even if it proves devastating.
Perceptive
Mipha was a great observer. In her journal, she wrote about all kinds of things she picks up on, mostly involving Link. She noted how serious he became after joining the Royal Guard, and before anyone else seemed to intuit the strain it was taking on him.
As well as this, she knew that by becoming Zelda's personal guard, they would be spending a lot of time together and might even grow close. And while this caused her pain, she knew better than to get entangled in something that could potentially be messy.
Lasting Presence
While it's already been established that Mipha and her brother shared a deep, profound bond, the depth of that bond has actually carried over to the present - whether Sidon realizes it or not. During her EX Champion memory, it's revealed that after helping Sidon up a waterfall, she tells him, "I believe in you."
These exact words are what Sidon tells Link while subduing Divine Beast Ruta, and specifically, they are the words he says when Link tackles the waterfalls coming off its sides. Although heart wrenching, it's a testament to how strong their love for each other was.
A Little Dreamy
Princesses just wanna have fun, and even if her duties kept her from living a carefree life, Mipha was still a teen girl who was a little bit of a dreamer. Since Zora age slowly, she first met Link when he was a child, and while (of course) she didn't have feelings for him then, she couldn't help but gush over how cute his baby blue eyes were.
Additionally, when she first meets Ruta, her first thought was how cute it was. Most probably wouldn't consider an ancient mechanical colossus to be "cute," per se, but Zora thought exactly this. Although it's a minor detail about her, it's certainly endearing.