Stars Who Used to Be Girl Scouts: Meghan Markle, Taylor Swift and More

Credit: Nick Harvey/Shutterstock; Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Stars Who Used to Be Girl Scouts: Meghan Markle, Taylor Swift and More

Living by the Girl Scout law! It may not come as a total surprise, but some of today’s biggest stars and leaders were once troop members in their youth. Taylor Swift was a Girl Scout while growing up in her native Pennsylvania. As she went on to become one of the world’s most notable pop stars, she never forgot her roots as she gave troops across New Jersey and Connecticut free tickets to her Reputation tour in 2018. The Girl Scouts of the USA even has ties to prominent public figures such as Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts and Meghan Markle, a former actress and senior member of the British royal family. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, for her part, opened up about her positive experience as a troop member in 2012 while speaking to a group of Girl Scouts on the first-ever International Day of the Girl. “I benefited from my years associated with Girl Scouts, starting out as a Brownie, flying up, becoming a Girl Scout, becoming what we called in those years so long ago a Mariner Scout, acquiring badges,” she recalled at the time. “There’s some people of my vintage [age] or a little bit closer who can remember those days.” [jwplayer RNMcNekl-zhNYySv2] The politician continued, “But the Girl Scouts not only taught me great songs that I still sing, but lifelong lessons about leadership and the value of public service and friendships that go back all those years and keep me grounded because I’m with people who know that I had a really hard time starting a fire in the rain.” Karlie Kloss additionally gushed over her time as a Girl Scout. “I have so many fond memories of growing up with my sisters and my best friends, and selling cookies was such a big part of our year,” she told Teen Vogue in 2013. “That was the exciting part of the spring. You plan for it all year.” The supermodel noted that the troops “were very close” in her community before adding, “It was amazing to be a part of something that was big — it was a very special organization. It still is!”

Reese Witherspoon, for her part, has been vocal about enjoying Girl Scout cookies as snacks through the years, but she also has quite the history back as a seller.

“I bet you can guess who sold the most cookies for Troop 1077. 💯🍪🤗,” the Wild actress wrote via Instagram in March 2021 alongside a throwback photo in her troop uniform.

Credit: Nick Harvey/Shutterstock; Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Stars Who Used to Be Girl Scouts: Meghan Markle, Taylor Swift and More

Living by the Girl Scout law! It may not come as a total surprise, but some of today’s biggest stars and leaders were once troop members in their youth. Taylor Swift was a Girl Scout while growing up in her native Pennsylvania. As she went on to become one of the world’s most notable pop stars, she never forgot her roots as she gave troops across New Jersey and Connecticut free tickets to her Reputation tour in 2018. The Girl Scouts of the USA even has ties to prominent public figures such as Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts and Meghan Markle, a former actress and senior member of the British royal family. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, for her part, opened up about her positive experience as a troop member in 2012 while speaking to a group of Girl Scouts on the first-ever International Day of the Girl. “I benefited from my years associated with Girl Scouts, starting out as a Brownie, flying up, becoming a Girl Scout, becoming what we called in those years so long ago a Mariner Scout, acquiring badges,” she recalled at the time. “There’s some people of my vintage [age] or a little bit closer who can remember those days.” [jwplayer RNMcNekl-zhNYySv2] The politician continued, “But the Girl Scouts not only taught me great songs that I still sing, but lifelong lessons about leadership and the value of public service and friendships that go back all those years and keep me grounded because I’m with people who know that I had a really hard time starting a fire in the rain.” Karlie Kloss additionally gushed over her time as a Girl Scout. “I have so many fond memories of growing up with my sisters and my best friends, and selling cookies was such a big part of our year,” she told Teen Vogue in 2013. “That was the exciting part of the spring. You plan for it all year.” The supermodel noted that the troops “were very close” in her community before adding, “It was amazing to be a part of something that was big — it was a very special organization. It still is!”

Reese Witherspoon, for her part, has been vocal about enjoying Girl Scout cookies as snacks through the years, but she also has quite the history back as a seller.

“I bet you can guess who sold the most cookies for Troop 1077. 💯🍪🤗,” the Wild actress wrote via Instagram in March 2021 alongside a throwback photo in her troop uniform.

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Mariah Carey

The “We Belong Together” songstress also donned a sash as a member of the organization when she grew up.

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Martha Stewart

Stewart fondly recalled her childhood experience, telling ABC News in March 2012, “Girl Scout camp at South Mountain Retreat [in Orange, New Jersey] taught me the real love of the outdoors, camaraderie and friendship.”

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Venus Williams and Serena Williams

Both of the tennis pros are among the most notable former Girl Scouts. Venus was a Scout for a brief period in her youth and even served as a keynote speaker at the organization’s 100th anniversary celebration in Dallas in 2011. Serena, for her part, got a shout-out via the Girl Scouts Facebook page in 2015.

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Gwyneth Paltrow

Like her mother, Blythe Danner, the actress and Goop founder was a Girl Scout while growing up in New York City.

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Robin Roberts

The Good Morning America anchor tweeted in 2017, “I was a #GirlScout and I’m proud to say I’m a lifetime member! 👍🏽 .”

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Hillary Clinton

During the first-ever International Day of the Girl celebration in 2012, the former first lady and 2016 presidential candidate told a troop what she learned during her time as a Scout. She also raved about the organization’s legacy. “I think it’s fair to say Girl Scouts were ahead of their time,” she said at the event. “When Girl Scouts were founded a hundred years ago, that was pretty revolutionary. And even today, I think in some parts of the world, it would still be considered that.”

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Queen Elizabeth II

In her youth, the monarch was a member of the Girl Guides — the U.K. version of Girl Scouts — in 1937. Her daughter, Princess Anne, was also a Girl Guide.

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Meghan Markle

According to the Girl Scouts blog, the Duchess of Sussex was a troop member in her youth.

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Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning

Following in their mother’s footsteps, the Fanning sisters became Girl Scouts in 2005.

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Taylor Swift

The “Cardigan” singer was a Girl Scout while growing up in Pennsylvania. In her 2009 parody track “Thug Story,” she rapped about baking Caramel deLites — one of the many Girl Scout brand cookies.

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Reese Witherspoon

Back in 2018, the Big Little Lies alum scored a shout-out via the official Girl Scouts Facebook page for her achievements in business. “Congratulations to Girl Scout Alum, Reese Witherspoon, for earning a spot on the Fast Company’s Most Creative people list for 2018,” the organization wrote. “Representation matters and women and girl’s voices need to be heard. Let’s keep breaking the silence, keep creating better parts for women, and keep shining through powerful storytelling. Together, we can pave a brighter path for G.I.R.L.s in media.”

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Queen Latifah

After serving as a Scout as a young one, she lent her voice to the narration of a Girl Scouts promotional video in 2018.

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Karlie Kloss

“It’s such an incredible memory that I’ll always have,” the Kode With Klossy creator told Teen Vogue in 2013 of her experience. “My oldest sister is just a few years older, and my youngest sisters are twins, so all of us were in Girl Scouts at the same time.”

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Vanessa Hudgens

The High School Musical actress became an honorary Scout in 2009 at a special screening for her film Bandslam.

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Tyra Banks

The former America’s Next Top Model host, who was a Scout as a child, appeared in the organization’s “Lifetime of Leadership” PSA in 2018.

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Katie Couric

The famous broadcast journalist wrote an essay for ABC News titled “Girl Scouts USA: The Year of the Girl” in 2012. “In fact, I really loved being a Girl Scout and was really honored when I was asked to deliver the keynote speech at their annual convention in Houston, Texas,” she wrote. “It was there in November that I learned about the organization's 'Year of the Girl' initiative and the 'To Get Her There' campaign.”

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Abigail Breslin

The Scream Queens alum became a Girl Scout in 2008 during a ceremony held at the 20th Century Fox studio lot in Studio City, California. The year before, she was up for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Little Miss Sunshine.

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Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher

When the mother-daughter pair passed away days apart in 2016, the organization honored the duo on their official blog. “Actresses, leaders, sources of inspiration — and true Girl Scouts. This week, the world had to say goodbye to two phenomenal women who exemplify what it is to be a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™: Debbie Reynolds and her daughter, Carrie Fisher,” the post read.