My name is Kalena. I joined the Girl Scouts when I was 7 years old, and now at 16 I am a Girl Scout Ambassador. Being a Girl Scout has been an incredibly important part of my life, and I am proud to belong to an organization whose goal is to empower young girls and help them to find their full potential, in whatever walk of life they choose to follow. That is why I was so upset to see the new official Girl Scout Barbie -- a doll that does not represent the diversity or mission of the Girl Scouts, and which, of all possible things, is dressed in high-heeled hiking boots.

I am a strong believer in the the Girl Scouts of the USA mission statement: “Girl scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.” As Girl Scouts, we are encouraged to pursue a wide-range of career options -- from previously male-stereotyped jobs such as construction to being a professional chef. Girl Scouts aims to open girls’ eyes to the possibilities and to believe that they can do any job -- they can be an engineer or an astronaut or a firefighter, no matter what.

Girl Scouts aims to show the world that girls are not just stereotypes—they are much more than that. Girl Scouts is about empowering the common, everyday girl. As a fellow Girl Scout, I believe that the Girl Scout organization is doing a very good job of working towards their goal; I know first-hand the change that Girl Scouts can bring and I've never stopped appreciating how I've grown because of Girl Scouts.

Which is why I am so confused and upset by the new Girl Scouts Barbie. If Girl Scouts is about empowering the normal girl, why do the Girl Scout Barbie dolls look like supermodels? The Barbie Girl Scout doll should represent girls of all cultures, of all sizes, and of all colors.

Yes, the Barbie doll was created as a positive influence for girls; Barbie has taken on over 150 occupations, ranging from astronaut to veterinarian and even to president. Still, Girl Scout's goal is to empower every girl of any age, size, color, or background. That is why I'd like the Barbie doll to be remodeled—to truly reflect the Girl Scout mission.

The remodeling of the Barbie could be amazing; it would show true change in the viewpoint of society and the conquering of unrealistic social views on how girls, and people in general, are to look. It’s great that Barbie and Girl Scouts have teamed up as they share similar goals of empowering girls to take on whatever occupation they choose, and the message would be even more powerful if the doll itself resembled the ordinary girl.  

The Barbie doll itself without any clothes on is already something unattainable. Why shouldn’t the doll send the message that girls are perfect the way they are? A girl should be able to hold the doll in her hands and truly think “That is what I’m going to become when I’m older.” At the moment, they can’t. The doll gives physically unattainable standards.

Why not give girls a doll that will build self-esteem rather than breaking it down? The Girl Scout and Barbie partnership could go far, but only if the doll resembles the everyday woman.