Miss Israel Pageant finalist Zoe Russel, 20, prefers defending Israel's borders to being a beauty queen. Photo: Israel Police.

Zoe Russell, a 5’10” blonde beauty, was a finalist in the Miss Israel Pageant not long ago, but instead of taking the more glamorous route a modeling career would afford her, she has chosen to serve in Israel’s Border Police.

Instead of an evening gown, her outfit includes “a heavy and cumbersome vest, dusty helmet, rifle and boots,” Israel’s Channel 2 reported, publishing a recent interview, including official photos of the border policewoman.

Of serving in the Border Police, Russell, 20, said, “It’s another world, perhaps less glamorous and glitzy, but there is a lot of action, that causes the blood to flow hard. There are amazing warriors who see female combatants as equals, and, most importantly, I see my work as part of the national mission of safeguarding the security of the state and its citizens.”

Born in England, and now a resident of Gan Shomron, Russell said her dream since she was 6-years-old has been to serve her country.

On her Facebook page, Russell has a “babes with guns” shot of herself alongside a brunette colleague, aiming their rifles, while camouflaged in the brush.

Another Israeli beauty opted for the opposite path. Supermodel Bar Refaeli evaded the country’s compulsory military draft. Rather than serving her two years, Refaeli married a family friend so that she could continue her modeling career. But, her fans argue, Rafaeli’s pro-Israel work on the global stage, including standing up to an anti-Israel boycott by former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters, has also served her nation well.