When I was younger I loved Ariel.
As a role model I'd say Mulan. It was quite a change for Disney to have a heroine who wasn't motivated by romance. She did end up finding love (well it is Disney) but her main story arc was about her fighting in a war to save her father from having to, and she was very tough, even more than the men she was fighting with.

Mulan and Belle. I like Belle, she loves to read, and she's intelligent. I think another good thing is that Beauty and the beast sends a slightly better message about appearances than a lot of Disney movies. In most of them you can tell who the villain is bcause ugly people are bad guys and attractive people are good. In this, the 'handsome' guy proposes to Belle right at the start, but she turns him down based on his bad personality and falls for the beast.

Definitely Mulan. She was willing to sacrifice her own life for her father's and learned a good deal about herself along the way.
And I agree with Mermaid-Tail about Belle too! She's second on my list. Intelligent, self-sacrificing and not swayed by a pretty face or popular opinion.

Nothing I can add that fanfly, Asvini, and Mermaid-Tail haven't already said. Mulan is tough, strong, and independent, and Belle is second on my list, she's smart and loves to read, and doesn't judge by looks.

when she runs away from home, she trains as a guy with the guys and proves to be one fierce woman. she even cuts her hair! an action that speaks more than her disguise as a guy-she strips herself of the female stereotypes and is one bad mamajama

She went after what she wanted and got it, even with out speaking lol. She was only 16 and she took on a hard adventure and the evil Ursula. She's brave and persistent.
Mulan would be my next choice. :)

or Mulan :)

then Mulan.

Mulan: Went to war for her father (not her love) and was smart enough to shoot at the mountain to give her troup enough time to plan a next attack. In the begining she didnt really care about her apperence (as she almost barfed after seeing all the makeup she was wearing.)

Defiantly Mulan and Ariel (though Mulan's motivation was for HER LOVE for her father and Ariel's love for another (and her family), fascinating world who happened to have the man of her dreams there) both were brave and self sacrified alot and dealt with fixed (close minded) views of characters of what Mulan and Ariel were EXPECTED to uphold ex: Mulan to be a proper lady and learn the ways of womanhood and maintain a household, Ariel: embracing a whole new world different to her own Mermaid/Human (a very real metaphor of racism/individuality) and to stick to their guns and do the right thing for themselves and for the people that they love and admire :)

She is intelligent, ready to do all what she can do to save/help her loved ones, and she sees what a person has inside, she does not care about his/her appearance.