According to the Ministry of Labor, of the 251,000 security guards registered in São Paulo alone, approximately 30,000 are women. In the area of training, data from FORMUSSEG – the Security Guard Training Academy – shows that 151 of those enrolled are women. With the aim of highlighting this female strength in the security sector and choosing an outstanding professional to represent a category that is growing every day, the Miss Segurança (Miss Security) pageant is holding its second edition in 2016.
“We aim to highlight the value of women in a scenario that has always been predominantly male. Today, it is common to find female security guards providing services in banks, industries, condominiums, and shopping malls, performing their role with extreme efficiency, commitment, and attention in dealing with the public. I also emphasize the female participation in administrative and operational areas, as well as executives and businesswomen in this sector,” says Fernando Amorim, from Novo Convênio Saúde e Auditorias em Benefícios, the company that organizes and runs the competition.
To participate in the contest, candidates must be registered with private security, personal security, escort, electronic security companies, or enrolled in training courses, proving their employment relationship to the auditors, and be at least 18 years old. Registration is already open and can be completed until May 7th through the website www.novoconvenio.com.br.
All registered candidates will have their photos published on the organizing company's website and will receive votes online, with only one vote per IP address being valid. The 10 candidates with the most votes will participate in the grand final in São Paulo, for the jury's selection, during EXPOSEC | International Security Fair, which takes place from May 10th to 12th at the São Paulo Expo Exhibition & Convention Center in São Paulo. The final result will be announced on the last day of the event, May 12th, at 5 PM.
For Ereni Ribeiro Tinoco, director of the Muralha Group, women are gaining prominence in the job market. “There has been a growing demand for female professionals. This is due to companies' interest in a gentler approach in situations where there is direct contact with the public, such as in reception areas, security posts, high-end condominiums, maternity wards, among others. Women's interest in this market is still recent, but a well-trained professional fulfills her role with the same efficiency as a man,” she says. According to the executive, it is in this context that the Miss Segurança pageant plays a fundamental role. “The contest puts female security guards in the spotlight, which contributes to greater acceptance by society. Furthermore, it shows that despite the seriousness of the job, they remain delicate, feminine, and careful about their appearance,” comments Ereni.
As a prize, the winner will receive R$1,400.00, two nights with a companion at a farm hotel, a beauty day (in the region where she lives), and a cosmetics basket. The second-place winner will take home R$600.00, and the other finalists will receive a cosmetics basket.
Michele Lana, a security guard and one of the candidates in this edition, also highlighted the double burden women face. “Besides work, we have to take care of the house, the children, the husband, and also ourselves. Few people know what the routine of a security guard is like, and the competition shows that, despite the challenges, we are great professionals.”
Source: Security Brazil
Date: 08/03/2016
