Westborough, Massachusetts, police officer Ashlyn Mercier is competing in the Miss America pageant, making history as the first police officer to hold the title of Miss Massachusetts.
Mercier told Fox News Digital that she hopes her participation sends a powerful message to young girls, emphasizing that women are multifaceted and can pursue multiple dreams without letting one define their entire identity. She stated that there is no single prescribed look for a female police officer, as women in law enforcement, who constitute approximately 14% of the force in the United States, do not need to conform to a specific appearance.
The Miss America competition, which dates back to a 1921 beauty contest, awards scholarships and provides the winner with a national platform for community service and advocacy. This year, more than $300,000 in tuition scholarships are available to delegates.
Mercier's personal platform, "Nick's Courage: One Smile Goes a Mile," is dedicated to bringing positivity and hope to children battling critical illnesses, named after her younger brother, Nicholas, a survivor of pediatric cancer.
After taking a year off from pageant competition in 2025 to attend the police academy, Mercier initially had concerns about how pursuing both a law enforcement career and pageantry would be perceived. However, she realized the importance of focusing on her own goals. The Westborough Police Department has been a strong source of support throughout her journey, with colleagues attending send-off parties, assisting with fundraising, and sending good luck messages.
Mercier believes her law enforcement experience has equipped her with valuable skills, such as communicating with diverse individuals and remaining calm under pressure, which she can apply to the competition. She acknowledges that preparing for a pageant takes significantly longer than getting ready for a police shift, where her routine typically involves minimal makeup and her hair pulled back.
Regardless of the outcome, Mercier is committed to using her platform to make a difference and inspire young women to pursue careers in law enforcement and other fields, demonstrating that they can achieve multiple aspirations simultaneously. She stated, "If I do win, I just hope to be an inspiration to young women and girls looking up to [me] knowing that she can be a police officer, and she can be Miss America. She can chase all her dreams at once."