Princess Leia Organa's "slave" guise, commonly referred to as Slave Leia, first appeared in the 1983 film Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, portrayed by Carrie Fisher. In the story, Leia infiltrates Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine disguised as the bounty hunter Boushh to rescue the carbonite-frozen Han Solo. After her disguise is exposed, Jabba forces her into a revealing metal bikini outfit—consisting of a gold brassiere, ornate hip plates connected by leather straps, silk loincloth, boots, and braided hair—chaining her to his throne as a trophy slave. This costume, designed by Aggie Rodgers and Nilo Rodis-Jamero with influences from fantasy art (notably Frank Frazetta illustrations), marked a deliberate contrast to Leia's prior practical and authoritative attire, emphasizing her temporary loss of agency.

While captive, Leia endures humiliation yet retains her characteristic defiance and strategic mindset, refusing to break under Jabba's control. She maintains composure amid the palace's depravity, subtly observing opportunities for escape alongside Luke Skywalker and the rescue team. Her resilience peaks during the skirmish over the Great Pit of Carkoon, where she capitalizes on the chaos to use her own chain to strangle Jabba to death, directly contributing to the crime lord's demise and the group's liberation of Han Solo.

This portrayal, though brief in the film, has become one of the franchise's most iconic and controversial elements, celebrated for showcasing Leia's resourcefulness in turning vulnerability into victory, yet criticized for gratuitous sexualization. Carrie Fisher later reflected on the experience with wry humor, noting its impact on her career and advising younger actresses against similar costumes. In subsequent Star Wars canon and media, the outfit is rarely revisited, with Disney largely discontinuing related merchandise to prioritize empowered depictions of Leia as a diplomat, general, and leader, reinforcing her legacy as a symbol of strength rather than objectification.