Twenty-five years ago, 41-year-old Angelia Curran broke boundaries when she became the first female firefighter at her Alabama volunteer department. Now, she's making headlines as an honoree for cosmetics company L'Oreal's Woman of Worth competition.
The award recognizes women who volunteer their time to their communities. There were 13 honorees in all -- all from different parts of the United States. Each woman won $2,500 to donate to the charity of their choice. Another $2,500 was donated in each woman's name to The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
Each honoree was selected from a pool of judges that included CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien, L'Oreal head Carol J. Hamilton and Susan L. Taylor of Essence magazine. The company says they were looking for certain characteristics - both in judges and in contestants: a devotion to community, a strong sense of self and outstanding achievements.
Some women were honored for their work with feeding the needy, others for their assistance to people with serious illness. Curran was honored for her tenacious spirit and dedication to firefighting.
Curran, who also works as an EMS supervisor at East Alabama Medical Center, says she knew when she joined Smiths Station's Friendship Volunteer Fire Department it would be hard for her fellow firefighters to adjust to having a woman around. She says she was working with a lot of older men - many of whom didn't see the point in having a female firefighter around. In fact, initially, her duties around the firehouse mostly consisted of washing dishes and serving coffee.
"But," says Curran, "I stuck it out."
She credits then-fire chief A.C. Simmons with putting an end to her mistreatment. She says he took her aside and asked her if she really wanted to fight fires. When she answered in the affirmative, he let her begin training.
Soon, she said, she was outperforming men her own age. Since then, her work with the department has grown by leaps and bounds. She currently serves as the department's Deputy Chief.
In addition to serving as second-in-command, Curran has also served as president of the County Firefighter's Association. She has also helped direct her local chapter of FEMA's Citizen Emergency Response Teams program -- a program that teaches average citizens the basics on what to do in a disaster. She has also championed efforts to get a fire safety trailer to help educate children in her county and worked to get Automated External Defibrillators for her department, another nearby department and her county Sherriff's Department's patrol cars.
It takes perseverance to have raked up those kinds of accomplishments. Curran says it's in her blood.
"My momma and daddy raised me that if you want to do something, do it," she says. "Don't let anything hold you back. If you're going to quit -- you didn't want it badly enough in the beginning."
Indeed, her dedication to the fire service is in her blood as well. Her father serves as her department's fire chief and her mother is one of the dispatchers.
"My family has always given back and helped others.
Curran said when she first received word she was a finalist in the contest, she didn't even know she was a contestant. While online, her husband stumbled onto information about Women of Worth, and decided that his wife was the person L'Oreal was looking for.
Last month, the company notified her that she was the winner for her region -- and since then, Curran's life has become a bit of a whirlwind. The company flew her from her small Alabama town to New York City, for makeovers and photo shoot and an interview.
"I never thought I would get recognized on this level," she said.
The special attention to hair and makeup were quite a change for someone used to turnouts and sweat.
"I'm not a girly girl," Curran said. "I'm a paramedic by trade, a firefighter for fun." But, she allows, she did appreciate the opportunity to be pampered.
She will travel to New York later this month to find out if she beat out fellow honorees for the grand prize - $25,000 for the charity of her choice. The grand prize winner will be selected from the results of an online vote held earlier this month.
Curran knows that her story may inspire other young women to become part of the fire service. She says she encourages all young women, especially those in rural areas, to volunteer.
"If she can put in the effort and time, she can succeed in it -- don't give up hope," she says.
