A Minneapolis firefighter appeared on the latest season of CBS television's "Tough as Nails" show last night.
"As a firefighter, you've got to have a cool head, you've got to work well under pressure," Akeela Al-Hameed told CBS Minneapolis. She works at Fire Station 16 on the city's North Side.
When Al-Hameed - a U.S. Army veteran - is not at the fire station, she is a mixed martial arts competitor.
Prior to her time in the fire service, she worked as a railroad conductor and correctional officer.
"I hope that people see that it's okay to be who you are no matter what. And also it doesn't matter what your current situation is, you can always change it. I came from not-so-great upbringing and I made my way through it. And I just hope to show other people that they can make it too."
