What if the next President is a 17-year-old girl who’s already better at debating than half of Congress?
This is the companion to 2020’s “Boys State” (which my colleague Rob Kelly and I rated 99/100).
But the differences between the two programs say everything about power, gender, and who gets taken seriously in politics.
Trailer for “Girls State”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Girls have to beg for time in the Missouri Supreme Court chambers while Boys State gets access.
- The girls’ debates about abortion are intense. One candidate, Nisha Murali, has to endure a gauntlet of interviews just to secure a spot as a Supreme Court Justice.
Watch “Girls State”
You can watch “Girls State” on Apple TV via JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 95/100 (Critics); 85/100 (Users)
Director’s Note: “Girls State” is directed by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, the team behind the award-winning “Boys State” (2020). They’re also known for “The Overnighters” and “Mayor Pete.”
Release Date: January 18, 2024 (Sundance); April 5, 2024 (Apple TV+)
My Review of “Girls State”
The Setup
500 girls from across Missouri descend on Lindenwood University for a week to build a mock government. They form parties, run campaigns, argue Supreme Court cases, and pass laws.
The twist? Their “brother” program—Boys State—runs at the same time, but with bigger budgets, more visibility, and more prestige. The contrast becomes the story.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Emily Worthmore, a Christian conservative, runs for Governor—and loses. But she still scored a college scholarship for shaking up the program’s rules.
- Cecilia Barton rises above the noise and wins Governor, the highest office at Girls State.
- Tochi Ihekona (daughter of Nigerian immigrants) makes history in the program by becoming Attorney General.
- The girls pass legislation on issues ranging from school dress codes to reproductive rights. And they point out how their program is designed with “tea parties and talent shows” instead of mock trials and hardball debates like the boys.
- The camera catches moments of exhaustion and tears. This shows how these teens are shouldering the same political fights adults dodge every day.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Emily Worthmore publicly criticizes the American Legion (the group running the program) for not taking Girls State as seriously as Boys State—a gutsy move that shocks even her peers.
- One of the few male officials present admits on camera that the boys’ program always gets priority because “they’re future leaders”—a comment that lands like a bomb.
- The filmmakers intercut the girls’ sessions with footage from Boys State 2020, making the disparities impossible to miss.
- The doc quietly notes that many alumni of Boys State have gone on to become governors, senators, even presidents—while Girls State alums rarely get mentioned at all.
Wrap Up
“Girls State” is less about teenage politics and more about a structural reality: even when women play by the rules, the rules aren’t written for them. It’s a smart, infuriating watch.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc