Your Body Is Not a Project-It's a Powerhouse.
By Melanie Abrahams
IN THIS EDITION: We're hearing from Girl Scouts of the USA Brand Director Melanie Abrahams on the new program and the inspiration behind it.
IT'S AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR moment—standing in front of the mirror, picking apart what we see. But today’s girls are not here for that energy. According to new research from Girl Scouts of the USA, 96% of girls say they like the way they look. And when asked what they’d rather be called, “smart” beat “pretty” by a landslide. That’s the kind of glow-up we should all be taking notes from.
Here’s the plot twist: While girls are out here embracing their brilliance, they’re also listening. One in three girls as young as five hear the women in their lives talk negatively about their own bodies. And that kind of self-talk sticks. It teaches girls that maybe they should be worried about their thighs or their laugh lines or whatever the latest “flaw” of the week is. That’s why Girl Scouts of the USA, in partnership with Flamingo, just launched their new Body Appreciation Program—a new badge line that helps girls celebrate what their bodies do, not how they look.
Not your average pep talk, this is a full-on curriculum, co-developed with mental health experts and tested by real Girl Scouts. Through the program, girls learn to move for joy, set boundaries, and hype each other up. They’re dancing, creating, breathing, thinking—and realizing that their bodies are instruments, not ornaments. All of this leads to lifelong habits that support emotional and physical well-being. (Can we get a badge too?)
So, here’s your gentle nudge: If you’ve got a young person in your life—daughter, sister, niece, neighbor, or mentee—they’re watching. And learning. Not just from what you say about her, but from what you say to yourself. Want to help her grow up confident and self-assured? Start by being a little kinder to the woman you see in the mirror. Celebrate your senses. Dance like no one’s watching (or like everyone is). Who cares if it’s a random Tuesday, go ahead and wear the outfit that makes you feel like Beyoncé. Because when you show up for yourself, you’re showing her how it’s done.
Let’s raise a generation that doesn’t just like their bodies–they trust them. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll learn to do the same.
Learn more about the Body Appreciation Program and how you can support the next generation of confident, compassionate girls at girlscouts.org/bodyappreciation.
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As Brand Director at Girl Scouts of the USA, Melanie is inspired by today’s youth and the energy they bring to improving the world. Her biggest interests include going to bed early, reading obscure Victorian novels, and taking orders from her floofy rescue cats, Gemma and Nigel. Find more of her work at girlscouts.org/raising-girls. |
MEET THE BODY APPRECIATION BADGES:
