Candace Kanavel, a 27-year-old hostage negotiator on the SWAT team, finds that her skills in law enforcement translate well into her role as Miss Arizona USA. She emphasizes that both roles require strong communication, leadership, and adaptability. Kanavel states, “A lot of the qualities that I have to have as an officer translate directly to my role as Miss Arizona USA and vice versa.”

She feels empowered in both her police uniform and her pageant sash, explaining, “When I’m in my police uniform, I’m empowered to help people. And when I’m in my sash and crown, I’m empowered to help people. And so I’m doing the same job, just in a different uniform.” Kanavel founded Yes She Can to support women’s confidence and capabilities, sharing, “I started Yes She Can because of my own story… I think people see femininity as weakness, and it’s not.”

Through her pageant involvement, Kanavel hopes to offer a glimpse into the lives of officers, noting, “We have hobbies, we have families, we have all these different things outside of what we do for a living.”