Divine inspired the visual design of Ursula in Disney's The Little Mermaid.
Ursula was developed by animator Rob Minkoff and other Disney artists as a flamboyant sea witch with a broad silhouette, dramatic makeup, and theatrical mannerisms. The design drew inspiration from Divine, the stage name of American performer Harris Glenn Milstead, whose distinctive appearance and performance style influenced the character's look and attitude.
Divine was known for collaborations with filmmaker John Waters and for roles in films including Pink Flamingos and Hairspray. Ursula is not a direct portrait of Divine, but the resemblance was intentional and became part of the character's production history.
Pat Carroll supplied Ursula's voice in the 1989 animated film. The character also draws on the narrative role of the sea witch from Andersen's fairy tale, although Ursula's name, personality, appearance, and plot function were created for Disney.