By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"COOKIE QUEENS"--A SWEET LOOK AT GIRL POWER
Watching the new documentary "Cookie Queens" from writer/director
Alysa Nahmias ("Art & Krimes By Krimes" and "Unfinished Spaces") took me back. Way back. It brought back fond memories of my own childhood and the time I spent in San Bernardino, California as a Blue Bird, Brownie, Camp Fire Girl, and Girl Scout Cadette.
Of course, a lot has changed since then, but the core values of the Girl Scouts organization thankfully remain the same. While I never had the pressure of selling Girl Scout Cookies, I probably would have been just as gung-ho as today's young cookie entrepreneurs, especially knowing that their dedication can be rewarded with some impressive prizes and experiences.
"Cookie Queens" is a coming-of-age story that honors the Girl Scouts organization and follows four girls, ages five to twelve as they gear up for cookie season and navigate their way through the annual fun and demanding process.
Olive, from Charlotte, North Carolina, is a 12-year-old
Cadette Level Girl Scout from Troop 219 who is wise well beyond her years. Already the top seller in her troop, Olive, set a single season record by selling 8,745 boxes of cookies before breaking North Carolina's state record with an astonishing 12,801 boxes. While she hopes to become a Supreme Court Justice someday, judging by her confidence, leadership skills, and ability to advocate for change, she already has the presence of someone ready to wear the robe.
When interviewed by her local television station, Olive spoke passionately about wanting Girl Scouts to receive a larger share of cookie proceeds and about giving girls a stronger voice within the organization's leadership. Supported by her parents--her mother (Carrie) serves as troop co-leader and cookie manager, while her father (Ryan) helps with videography, her website, and social media--Olive is proving that these cookies are about much more than sales. I couldn't help but smile when she confidently asked younger Girl Scouts if they knew what "upselling" was. Clearly, this young entrepreneur has already mastered the art of persuasion.
There's also nine-year-old
Nikki from Chino, California. She is a
Brownie Level Girl Scout and a "Juliette"--a one-girl troop of her own. Inspired by her older sisters, Nyah (16) and Nala (14), Nikki joined Girl Scouts as part of a family tradition built by her mother (Teresa) to create an empowering space for her daughters. With her "Cookie Dad" Aaron by her side, Nikki carries on the family's cookie-selling legacy while hoping to achieve a goal of her own: earning a trophy and proving she can follow in her sisters' footsteps.
Ara who is five years old and from
San Diego, is a
Daisy-level Girl Scout with Troop 2239. She's another one of the documentary’s most inspiring young cookie sellers.
After selling five boxes during her first cookie season, she sets an ambitious goal of 55 boxes as she enters kindergarten. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age, Ara can only sample small amounts of the cookies herself, but that doesn’t stop her from being an enthusiastic and persuasive salesperson. A lover of outer space, books, piano, and Pilates, Ara's confidence, and determination shine through--including her playful warning to her uncle that her cookie business might one day compete with his bakery. Her idea to create her own sugar-free cookie proves she's already thinking like a true entrepreneur.
Eight-year-old
Shannon Elizabeth from El Paso, Texas, is a
Brownie Level Girl Scout whose journey shows confidence and leadership that can grow from being part of a troop. Once extremely shy, Shannon Elizabeth blossomed with the support of her mom, troop co-leader Amanda, and her mom's partner, Juan, whom she affectionately calls "Sushi." Together, they make a determined cookie-selling team working toward the goal of earning a spot at Girl Scout summer camp. A budding karate enthusiast and proud of her Latinx and Native American heritage, Shannon Elizabeth is becoming a young leader in her diverse troop while still holding onto the sweetness of childhood--pink stuffed bunny included.
With "Cookie Queens," director Alysa Nahmias has made a heartwarming and observational film that truly captures the essence and spirit of these young girls, along with their dreams, determination, and goals. I won't spoil who wins top honors.
However, “Cookie Queens” offers viewers a fascinating glimpse into the Girl Scouts organization, which was founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia. Gordon organized the first troop of 18 girls, and today the Girl Scouts of the USA has grown to nearly 2 million members, including more than 1.1 million girls and hundreds of thousands of adult volunteers.
“Cookie Queens” is about much more than a box of Thin Mints or who can sell the most cookies. It's a celebration of confidence, friendship, leadership, and the lifelong lessons these young girls gain along the way. Like the cookies themselves, the film leaves behind a sweet reminder that success is measured not just by what you achieve, but by the person you become.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"COOKIE QUEENS"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
