a woman whose merits were not been recognized but who then achieves sudden success and recognition
"After years of working unnoticed in the shadows, she became a cinderella when her novel suddenly topped bestseller lists."
a fictional young girl who is saved from her stepmother and stepsisters by her fairy godmother and a handsome prince
"The story of Cinderella follows a fictional young girl who is saved from her stepmother and stepsisters by her fairy godmother and a handsome prince."
A mistreated and impoverished girl.
"The story is sometimes spelled as cinderella in older texts, making it an alternative form of Cinderella."
Alternative form of Cinderella
In plain English: A cinderella is someone who faces unfair treatment but eventually finds success after being helped by others.
"She was like Cinderella, working hard all day while her sisters spent their money on parties."
A popular fairy tale embodying a classic folk tale myth-element of unjust oppression and triumphant reward.
"The movie adaptation became a cultural phenomenon by perfectly capturing the essence of Cinderella as a story where unjust oppression is followed by a triumphant reward."
The name Cinderella comes from combining the English word "cinder" with the diminutive suffix "-ella," which is used in Italian to mean "little." This formation literally translates to "little cinder girl," reflecting her humble origins as a coal-ash-covered child before she became famous.