Rookie staff members, by a Rookie staff member! Petra took these Polaroids when we celebrated our launch in September at Cindy’s place. Tavi, Emily, Anaheed, Jenny, and Emma. The mongoose is not part of our staff.
In honor of this month’s theme, we asked you all to send in photos of your own girl gangs. Behold! And ugh, I can’t get over how cute and cool you all are. One day I hope we can all have a giant Rookie tea party/paintball fight together. —Tavi
From Lovisa, photos taken Mandy-Lyn Antoniou
My name is Miriam Kornelis. I’m from Holland, Michigan, and my friends and I are definitely a girl gang. My best friends’ names are Sarah, Julia, Zoe, and Emma, and we do things together 24/7. We’ve had professional photo shoots done together because we’re just that official :) Probably the reason none of us have boyfriends (a problem we’re trying to fix) is because we’re such a tight group. —Miriam
Hotpot party. Candy, Lisa, Lorraine, Faith, Lershan, Saphira, Kayi. —Kayi
This is my girl gang, which I am still very much in, though we have drifted slightly as we all go to different schools now. We’ve been together for six years, though Emily and I have known each other for almost 12. It goes Amandeep, Emily, me. This was at our year-11 prom—I guess that’s the equivalent of sophomores in high school?—and I think you can agree, we’re a very glamorous bunch. This was the first time I grew my nails long, and the first time Amandeep wore a full face of makeup. Emily’s always been well put together, so ignore her. We’re the Unholy Trinity, and we’ve been through everything together. Boyfriends, coming out, sex shops, vibrators, surviving our all-girls private school—we’re so close, and total bros. Our goals are all different, and we’re all very different people, but when we get together, it’s like we’ve never been apart. I like to think these fierce grrrls will be my friends for life, but even if we’re not, I’ll always be happy about the time I’ve spent with them and the secrets we’ve shared. —Lilith
From Levon
From left is Gabby (17), Tori (18), Cassie (17), Sierra (17), and Brooke (17). My group of friends go by the name “chinques,” the Italian number for five. The spelling we use is “chinque.” This picture on the left was taken before we all went out on a Saturday night for some fun. —Tori
My friends and I are a girl gang. We do EVERYTHING together. The first photos are a comparison of us four and the four friends from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. (We really do match the characters. It’s creepy.) The second bunch are the Disney Princess photos we did at our college in California. Halstyn (Pocahontas and Lena) is a 20-year-old television and film major with a heart of gold. Jaryn (Halstyn’s sister; Jasmine and Carmen) is a 19-year-old psychology major with a talent for music. Kaylee (Aurora and Tibby) is a 19-year-old photography major with an independent spirit. Caitlin (Belle and Bridget) is a 19-year-old studying to be a dental hygienist that loves reading and romance. —Kaylee
Danielle, Sarah, Carli. Summer 2010, I think? Time flies when you’re old. —Sarah
From Jessann
Tricia, Irene, Jessica, Diana, Jacqui, and our canine companions, Ichabod and Lucy! This is me and my girl gang, celebrating our love for the Gemini! We’re fully equipped with flower crowns and canine companions! —Jessica
Laura, Francesca, Madeline, Catherine, and Alexe, sent to us by Francesca.
From Olivia
Morgan, Elora, Zil, and Alyssa. Many girls are involved in Girl Scouting at some point in their lives, most often when they are in elementary school. Well for me, I started in kindergarten and was with the same group of girls all the way through 12th grade. Our troop had many different members over the years, but four of us stuck with it through high school. I consider my Girl Scout troop to be bit of a girl gang in the way that we all became sooo close, and as we got older, the bond between us four got even closer. I consider these three girls my best and closest friends. We all go to different colleges now, in three different states, but we still have that incredible bond when we get together. The cool thing about Girl Scouts is when you first join you don’t have to worry about making friends (like at school); you’re just kinda forced to meet other girls. Sometimes amazing friendships are made, sometimes they aren’t. I got so so lucky with my troop. I honestly can say that the 13+ years that I’ve been a Girl Scout (I still consider myself one) have been the best part of my life. —Zil
From Rosie
From Leslie
Our gang of lady friends on Halloween as Twin Peaks—me as Audrey Horne, Shannon as Log Lady, Rebecca as Nadine, and Sarah as Josie Packard. Cool! And a picture of me and my best friend Shannon. Check out our band here. —Dominique
I am lucky enough to call a couple different gangs my best friends. Here are two. On top, four of my best theater friends. I would be miserable without them: Heather (17), Jiana (18), me (17), Tam (18), and McLean (19). And, my six DEUCES from Camp Lake Hubert. Clockwise from far left: Jordan, Meredith, Rachel, me, Joyce, and Fabiola. All 17! –Mamie
From Yousra
Soy Marisol de la ciudad de Mexico!!! Mandamos una foto de nuestra bandita “Chick Habit” y soy la chica del tatuaje. Marisol, Georgina, and Mariana. —Marisol
Here is what I would consider to be my girl gang: a bunch of crazy ladies I pretty much all met through the internet and blogging. Emma, Alex, Emily (me), Hannah, Liz, Ashley, Anna, Alley, Kelsey, and Siri. —Emily
A picture of my bestest friends in second grade at the Jelly Belly Factory (I’m in the middle). I just thought it was cute. And there’s a second picture of me and my friends now, as a comparison. —Adrienne
We’re Clara (17), Catherine (15), and Alyssa (17), a girl gang from New England. This year we founded a feminist/Riot Grrrl club at our high school, doing creative projects around the school to educate the other students! —HHS Riot Grrrls
Here are a couple photos from an impromptu girl gang shoot from last week when my friends and I accidentally wore matching outfits. Actually, that happens a lot. Our names are Vivian, Joyce, and Caroline. —Vivian
From Jojo, Annie, and Teddy
The Fab Four came into existence after a pretty quick best-friend-formingship at our summer camp, located almost in the middle of nowhere, which really is what makes it so beautiful and special. I thought I’d send in two pictures, almost identical, taken a year apart, of my very own Fab Four (from left: Devynn, Sara, Eden, Georgia). We’re at camp in both pictures, the place where we reunite after failed attempts at daily phone calls and weekly letter writing at the beginning of July every year (we’re all from different cities). —Jessica
Nina, Lucía, Flor, Lula, and Pato. This is a photo of me and my group of friends in my friend’s stupid pool. We call it that but we love it. —Lucia
I got inspired by this month’s theme last night and drew myself and my friends (aka las Bebes). Hope you like it! Our names are Melissa, Emily, and Britte. —Britte
These are some photos of me and my collaborator, Christine. We call ourselves the Basketball Team. We are a girl gang. —Sophie
Bella (16), Chantelle (15), Sofi (16), Christina (17), Rose (we call her Ropax) (16), and Caroline (17). At school, people give us crap for being really close friends. It got to a point where some of us considered “seeing other people” and making new friends…but then we were like, “Hey, they suck, and we like each other.” We’re called “the biffles” or as one of our moms says “the fashionistas.” We’re quasi-hipsters with diverse tastes that incude lax, modeling, Tina Fey, musicals, chocolate-covered strawberries (a shared joy), and shoes (another shared joy). I’m not sure why we’re all friends…but we work. They’re mah gurlzz. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. —Sofi, 16, San Francisco. Also, note from Bella: I love Rookie Mag and I love my girl gang!
Jocelyn, Michelle, and May, sent to us by Michelle.
From Eleonore
From Emily C.
From Alli
Sabrina (me), Angélique, Marie-Ly, Karelle, Gabrielle, Camille. This is the half of my girl gang and me. We’re from Montreal. —Sabrina
My computer is loaded with pictures, so I figured I would sift through and find some “girl gang” pictures. So these pictures include a few of us. I also threw in one of those stereotypical “group of girls” pictures because they said, “send this one to Rookie!” Love, Anna
Left to right: Faith, Amber, Giovanna, Sara, Jill (me!), and Hallie. This is my girl gang dressed up as one of the greatest girl gangs of all time, the Sailor Scouts, for superhero day our senior year. —Jill
My own girl gang and my mom’s girl gang. I’m the one holding a water bottle. —Diana
I know we’re not exactly teenagers (adultolescence is a term I’m learning to live with), but we’re definitely a BAMF girl gang of filmmakers. Jackie, Laura, Emma, Becca, Lila, Andrea, all age 20. —Jackie
Emily, Liza, me, Jeanne, Carly. This was before our first midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. When we got to the theater no one else was dressed up, but we didn’t care, because we looked hot and Jeanne’s fro was epic. Liza’s 18th birthday breakfast at IHOP, and our second annual Fancy Night. —Katie
This is an old photo and a new photo. The sister with red hair in the middle of the current photo is Ruth. She’s the oldest of the three of us. Anna is on the right and I am on the left. I’m the youngest. Our dynamic is interesting, because we have four other siblings above us, but we have always sort of been a separate unit. When we were having secret meetings in our room and creating our own “secret garden” in the backyard the older sibs were out experimenting with drugs and Satanism. Just kidding about the Satanism part. Secret Sister Club is alive and well, though it takes a different form these days because both of my sisters are married with families now. Ruth is 29, Anna is 26, and I am 24. Sisters forever!
From Emily W.
My friends and I were a girl gang for Halloween. We were inspired by movies like Cry-Baby, Grease, and Switchblade Sisters, as well as Drew Barrymore’s music video for “Our Deal” by Best Coast (<3 Chloe Moretz)! These photos were taken by Philip Wilkerson. —Terry
I’m not close with these girls at all anymore, but for years they were my best friends, and the memories I made with them are the best I’ve made so far. The picture is us reuniting: Samara (middle left) had come back home to visit (she moved away in our early high school years), and I (on the far left) came to see (left to right) her, Robyn, and Kayla. We got this picture on the front step of the elementary school we all went to together. It was so nice to see everyone again, but it also felt like closure. We’ve all grown and changed so much that I realized I’d never be close with them the way I once was—and that’s OK. But I miss it sometimes. —Mimi
I would like to submit some pictures of me and my friends Marisa and Lucy. I am Claire. These pictures were taken on a great fall day. We are from Chicago and are the three best friends anyone can ever have. We enjoy dressing up, watching old movies, playing Super Mario Bros., and taking photos. I can be goofy and totally natural around them—and when I can be myself I know that I have found true friends. I am the blonde in the bright yellow sweater, Lucy is the redhead in the army-green shirt and boots, and Marisa is the brunette with the scarf. My blog is http://musicfashionandallthatjazz.blogspot.com, by the way. Love, Claire
51 Comments
Yay Hotpots!!!! haha best thing in the world!
this is literally the best thing ever!!!
THIS IS SO AWESOME.
my heart is full of <3<3
same-same!
i am sad when it is over. oh my gosh, the joyfulness!
oh my god i need a girl gang of my own so badly. photo #3 is everything i want my life to be.
I’m going to miss Girl Gang month! These are so great <3
this is one of the best collections of photographs you guys have posted! i feel inspired to go take photos with my friends!!
Actually not sad to see this month go. To me, girl gangs are more like exclusive cliques who are mean to everyone not like them. Even nice girls get snippy when you throw them into a gang. Loved Secrets theme SO much. I miss that one.
Thats me and my gang number 46 this is the coolest ever
Oh man, you guys are SO CUTE AND AWESOME.
this makes me infinitely happy.
I am completely and totally in love with slideshow, it’s amazing.
Yayayay my drawing is up :)
So cool to see so many amazing girl gang killing it!
I LOVE that drawing.
Awww.. friendship. :)
This is so cute! I’m bummed that I didn’t know about this at the time, though; I would have submitted a picture of my awesome girl gang.
I’m crying! Sorry such a WUSS
THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER. I love the girls who formed a Riot grrrl club at their school arrrrrgh!!! so cool. Oh sorry I mean it’s “LITERALLY THE BEST THING EVER.”
I wanna hotpot!!!
Oh my god. Hot pot is the ultimate girl gang activity. I just did it last night with my FAMILY GANG.
I love how they are all so different <3
omg this is so perfect i feel really dumb for not sending in a picture now /:
so happy to see my submission up here. rookie is literally the best thing ever and I have a total friend crush on it.
I’m a girl with no girl friends. In high school I always hung out with boys only. I’m now somewhat sad about that – feeling like I must have missed out on something good!
Ps loving the yellow jumper in the last photo. X
so nice seeing this : )
i think the right word for this is EPIC
I want to be part of the girl gang in picture number three. badly.
i wish i could get a photo of all of these girls together because my of girls at my school formed a girl gang “the west end girls” considering our school is in the east end and we all live in the same neighbuorhood. I wish w could’ve gotten a photo so badly!! Oh man, but this is the greatest; really.
This rules. Is it too late for me to join the Girl Scouts?
so i get that chinque means five, but i still feel really uncomfortable that they didn’t pick a different name for their team.
you wouldn’t want to be on team ‘faget’ or team ‘nigroe’ even if it meant something special to you in another language, because in english, those terms are really offensive and can be misconstrued. the fact that they (nor rookie) considered (or cared?) how hurtful this could be if misinterpreted by asian people is at best lazy and at worst, racist.
If they were actually making a racial slur, we would have a big problem with it! But the chance that someone might misinterpret this perfectly innocent word is so extremely tiny that we’re totally fine with their T-shirts and their name and their awesome gang.
well then im glad my taking offense as an asian american means so little to you.
im obviously not welcome here so i’ll take the hint and not continue reading rookie. i don’t wish to be a part of a community that privileges ignorance and doesn’t care whether or not it perpetuates it, especially under the guise of feminism / youth empowerment.
Of course everyone, even someone who is offended by something on our site, is welcome to read and comment.
I don’t, however, think that trusting that teenagers will understand that “chinque” = cinque = 5 means we are perpetuating ignorance.
I’m sorry to have caused offense.
you people, you are all so beautiful and perfect and I have crushes on every single one of you <3
really great pictures!! wish i had a girl gang :-(
I loved looking at these. I’m 22 now and haven’t ever really had a group of good girl friends. My friends now happen to be mainly men. It looks like they’re having great fun!
I hardly think Team Chinque is offensive…
OMG i was so sad when i was looking at nr 46 BECAUSE IT WAS THE LAST PICTURE!! This is the best best best best best post EVER, you are all soo unbelievably amazing, this was one of the most inspiring things. Thank you so much! =)
All of these are so beautiful!
In Italian the number five is spelled cinque.
I think they spelled it with a ch so people would pronounce it correctly.
Awwww, I wish I’d sent in pictures….
This is so great. How many people is in everyone’s girl gang? Well, I have a girl gang of 2,3, and 5. :)
Here’s a photo shoot of MY (2 person) girl gang:
I love this! Great job once again, Rookie! :D
this is awesome! my girl gang is in the 39!
This if great. This month’s theme has inspired my friends to start our own girl gang. we named ourselves “The Darlings.” We all love Rookie and hope that you guys have a nice, long run.
Yay! Thanks Rookie for putting these pictures up!! As a reader, I’m really happy that my pics are on such a great mag! My pics are #23.
I borrowed “The sisterhood of the traveling pants” again from the library. I love the style of Tibby.
These pictures made me smile. And I would like the girls who dressed up as Twin Peaks characters to be my new best friends, please.
Now I feel like SO ANTISOCIAL. I wish I had a proper rookie grrl gang. but two weird grrls (me and my best friend) count as a girl gang, don’t
they??
Wish I had a girl gang, aw.