What you say about leaders and parent involvement is certainly true. Troops vary quite a bit.
I think the emphasis on appearance and crafts is just as much a product of the time period. After all, the 90’s was almost 30 years ago, and a lot has changed culturaly in the way we raise young women, and the things that we encourage. Thankfully outdoor activities are now more available and acceptable for women, even just in terms of gear.
The Journey book lessons I’ve seen around personal appearance focus on media literacy and consumption, and healthy self image. There are no GSU lesson plans that include make up and hair, though a troop could choose to focus on it.
