A former Secret Service agent tasked with protecting a high-profile family member has been uncovered as a plus-size model who repeatedly failed her physical fitness test.

As reported by The Daily Mail, Alison Zupancic was assigned to guard Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of former Vice President Kamala Harris, in New York despite not meeting the physical requirements for her role. Sources within the agency, speaking to RealClearPolitics, confirmed her multiple failures on the fitness assessment during her tenure.

Zupancic, who describes herself on social media as a 'nationally published curve model' and 'body-positive advocate,' also starred in a marketing campaign for ELOQUII, a plus-size fashion retailer. The campaign, which hinted at her law enforcement role with the tagline 'Undercover, But Never Underdressed,' seems to blur the lines between personal branding and professional duty in a way that feels ill-suited to the gravity of her position.

DEI Policies Under Scrutiny in Hiring

Zupancic was hired during the tenure of former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, whose leadership heavily prioritized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. This focus, while well-intentioned, now faces criticism for potentially compromising the agency's stringent standards.

After failing her fitness tests, Zupancic was reassigned to the Special Services Division, handling support tasks like maintaining armored vehicle fleets and screening White House mail. Such a move suggests an attempt to retain personnel rather than uphold the physical benchmarks critical to protective roles.

Cheatle's era also saw internal platforms where minority agents could vent workplace frustrations in designated chat rooms, per agency sources. While fostering dialogue is valuable, one wonders if this emphasis on cultural shifts overshadowed the core need for operational excellence.

Public Image Clashing with Protective Duty

The ELOQUII campaign featuring Zupancic claimed to 'challenge unconscious bias in the workplace and beyond,' according to its promotional materials. But pairing a Secret Service role with a public modeling persona risks turning a serious job into a platform for personal advocacy, which hardly aligns with the agency's low-profile ethos.

Protecting figures like Ella Emhoff demands unwavering focus and physical capability, not side hustles that draw attention. If an agent’s public image overshadows their readiness, it’s the public’s trust that ultimately takes the hit.

Secret Service work isn’t a stage for social statements or fashion shoots. The priority must be competence over optics, no matter how progressive the intent behind a campaign might be.

Leadership Fallout and Agency Trust

Cheatle’s resignation followed intense scrutiny after the July 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, an event that shook confidence in the Secret Service. House Speaker Mike Johnson, at a press conference, didn’t mince words, stating, 'The immediate reaction to her resignation is that it is overdue; she should have done this at least a week ago.'

Under Cheatle’s watch, 24 percent of agents and officers were women, a statistic often highlighted in DEI discussions. Yet numbers alone don’t guarantee effectiveness if foundational requirements like fitness are sidelined for the sake of representation.

Since Cheatle’s exit and replacement by Director Sean Curran, no major attempts on the president’s life have occurred, but embarrassing lapses persist. Incidents like an agent falling asleep during the UN General Assembly or failing to secure a firearm at Trump’s golf course show an agency still struggling to regain its footing.

Restoring Standards Over Symbolism

The Secret Service exists to protect, not to project social ideals or personal brands. Zupancic’s story, while perhaps inspiring in other contexts, underscores a troubling drift from mission-critical priorities under policies that seem more about appearance than substance.

Americans deserve an agency defined by readiness, not by how well it checks boxes on a diversity scorecard. If fitness tests are a barrier, the solution isn’t reassignment but rigorous training to ensure every agent can meet the demands of the job.

Rebuilding trust in the Secret Service means returning to unyielding standards, not bending them for narratives of inclusion. Let’s hope current leadership takes note and steers this vital institution back to its core purpose before more credibility is lost.