“The Girl Scouts have a stellar reputation.  Everything that is in their code of conduct is how I’ve tried to live my life. Within the organization, every girl has access to a big bag of tools that are essential to becoming a creative, fearless, intelligent leader. I commend Girl Scouts and their partner Dove for developing the uniquely ME! program,” said SuChin Pak, uniquely ME! spokesperson. “I want all girls to understand that ‘You can change the way you look, or you can change the way the world looks at you.’”  

This announcement, and the decision by Girl Scouts to draw additional attention to girls’ self-esteem issues, comes on the heels of research study findings recently released by the Girl Scout Research Institute, which finds the factor that most strongly influences girls’ desire to actively pursue leadership is confidence in skills and competencies.  The same study notes one-third of girls who do not want to be leaders explain their lack of motivation is due to fear of being laughed at, making people mad at them, coming across as bossy, or not being liked by people.   

“I am excited to be partnering with Girl Scouts and Dove on a cause that is so important to me.  As a young Asian-American girl, I never felt like I truly fit in.  Girl Scouts would have been a great support system to help me as I developed my own personal identity,” said Pak.  “I hope I can be a role model for girls out there who might be struggling with their own self-esteem.”  

As spokesperson, Pak will appear in a series of Girl Scout television and print public service advertisements, which will run nationwide beginning in May.  She also will make guest appearances in select cities throughout the U.S. and appear on the Girl Scout web site at www.girlscouts.org/uniquelyme.  

uniquely ME! is one of many Girl Scout activities girls participate in to build their self-confidence.  This focus area will be an intrinsic part of the new Girl Scout Leadership Experience, which launches in fall 2008 and focuses on activities and programs that help girls develop leadership skills.   

About SuChin Pak:

Born in Korea, SuChin and her family moved to the Bay Area when she was five years old. She graduated with a degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley. SuChin Pak joined the MTV News Team as a correspondent in May of 2001. She’s co-hosted the Video Music Awards, the Movie Awards and Grammy Pre-shows.  SuChin has been on the red carpet for the Oscars, Golden Globes and the Sundance Film Festival.  SuChin’s biggest project this past year has been hosting and producing the documentary series, “My Life Translated.”  A series for MTV, the documentaries deal with the lives of young people growing up in America with parents from different countries and cultures. SuChin will also be hosting the The G-Word, the Discovery Channel’s newest daily show which focuses on how to be green and eco-friendly in your everyday life. 

About uniquely ME!:

uniquely ME! is a Girl Scouts of the USA program supported by the Dove Self-Esteem Fund that is designed to build self-confidence in girls ages 8-to-17 with educational resources and hands-on activities. uniquely ME! resources and programs have reached more than 300,000 girls in the United States and Puerto Rico. The Dove Self-Esteem Fund is part of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty and was established as an agent of change to inspire and educate girls and young women about a wider definition of beauty.   

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas: 

Girl Scouts is a "girl-led" organization where girls develop their leadership potential through activities that enable them to discover their values, skills, and the world around them; connect with others in a multicultural environment; and take action to make a difference in the world. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas serves nearly 42,000 girls and 15,000 adults in 32 northeast Texas counties.  For information on how to join, volunteer or donate to the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas call (800) 442-2260 or visit www.gsnetx.org.