It’s no secret that the Girl Scouts have some very powerful alumni.
With their recent 100th anniversary – and the celebration event in Washington D.C. over the weekend – we wanted to celebrate a few of celebrity Scouts who are making a path for women via music, politics, and television presence.
Here are some stars who once donned the signature green beret:
Laura Bush started out with Brownies and “flew up” (official Girl Scout terminology) to become an official Girl Scout when she was 8 years old. While her husband was in office, Laura was also named an Honorary President of the Girl Scouts organization.
Abigail Breslin was sworn in as a Girl Scout in 2008. While most little starlets are working to get big name movies under their belt, Miss Breslin chose to put some badges on her sash, too!
Fun fact: Her Girl Scout induction took place at a proper ceremony on the 20th Century Fox studio lot in Studio City, California.
Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, was a Girl Scout from Philadelphia before she was an American film icon. Her “courage, confidence, and character” (traits that the Girl Scouts instill in all inductees) won her the heart of Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
Katie Couric, America’s favorite news anchor, served as a Girl Scout from fourth grade to sixth grade. To celebrate their 100th birthday, she donned the beret and supported the Girl Scouts’ new initiative to “raise awareness about the leadership gap that exists between men and women… across most industries and sectors.”
Current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has had a tenacious streak from quite a young age. As a child, she wrote to NASA asking how she could become an astronaut. “Of course, there weren’t any women astronauts, and NASA wrote me back and said there would not be any women astronauts,” she said in a speech. She might not have made it to space, but now the girl who wore her Girl Scouts uniform until high school is exuding her courage and confidence on Capitol Hill.
Gloria Steinem loved her time in Girl Scouts and has said, “We all have a place at the campfire. It was the Girl Scouts who taught me that first.” Along with many other Girl Scout alumnae, Gloria is a feminist supporting the equal treatment of women. In 1969, she came out in support of a woman’s right to choose, and was catapulted to national fame.
Dakota Fanning became a Girl Scout in 2005 along with her little sister Elle, who became a Brownie. She treated her new Girl Scout sisters to a special viewing of her, then, unreleased film “DREAMER: Inspired by a True Story.”
Martha Stewart is one crafty lady who can thank the Girl Scouts for some of her creative inspiration and can-do attitude. In support of their 100th birthday, Stewart invited the Cranford Troop of New Jersey (her home state) to her show after they came out in full force to serve their community after the hurricane.
Unlike many teen pop idols, Taylor Swift has a reputation for being grounded, smart and sensible… and she credits her involvement in Girl Scouts for her strong character and confidence. The successful singer-songwriter was recently in the adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s “The Lorax,” and we just loved her in it!
Were you a Girl Scout? Is your daughter?
