Soon, a lady from Arizona will make history by becoming the first person from the police force to compete for the title of Miss USA.
According to a press release issued by the Tempe Police agency, Candace Kanavel is an officer with the agency. The announcement states that she is trained in crisis intervention and works as a SWAT hostage negotiator with the department.
According to Good Morning America, the 27-year-old woman who is of Japanese American descent was named Miss Arizona in the month of May. She said that while the two vocations are distinct, she feels that they have one significant component in common.
“When I put on my police uniform, I feel like I have the authority to assist others. Kanavel said to GMA that she feels more empowered to assist others when she is wearing her sash and crown. “And so I’m still performing the same duties; the only difference is that I’m wearing a different uniform.”
KNXV-TV, an affiliate of ABC, said that the Tempe officer who initiated the campaign explained that she did so because she “felt like people constantly looked at me as a very feminine woman and discounted what I may be capable of.”
“I know that happens to so many women, especially being in my line of work as a police officer,” she added. “Especially being in my line of work as a police officer.” “I believe that people view femininity as weakness, despite the fact that it is not.”
Kanavel also has the goal of using her position as Miss Arizona to encourage further women to pursue careers in law enforcement.
According to the announcement sent by the Toronto Police Department, she was quoted as saying that “not that long ago there weren’t any women in law enforcement.” “Moving forward, the Miss USA competition will feature a law enforcement officer who is a woman.”
Kanavel feels that being able to participate in the pageant world due to the fact that her employment has benefited her. She said in an interview with a FOX station, KSAZ-TV, that her abilities to diffuse potentially dangerous situations and negotiate the release of hostages are occasionally useful.
She stated that communicating with the judges involves a degree of bargaining. “Talking to the judges is a little bit of a negotiation,” “You’re trying to tell them about yourself and really have those personal connections with them, and that’s exactly what we try to do as hostage negotiators,” said one hostage negotiator.
Kanavel’s ultimate goal is for her participation in Miss USA to demonstrate to young women that there are no boundaries to the kinds of things they may achieve in life.
In the press release issued by the TPD, she is quoted as saying, “You can do any career and be anything you want to be.” You have the ability to become whatever you set your mind to.
The CW airs the Miss USA pageant every Friday night at 8 p.m. ET.
