How I became the OG Hooters Girl. It was a rough start, but I have zero regrets now.
When I won that bikini contest on Clearwater Beach in 1983, I had no idea it would change my entire life. I was 22, working as a telephone operator, and entering contests on the side for extra cash. After I won, a woman approached me and said her boss was opening a new restaurant and thought I'd be perfect as their "billboard girl."
Honestly? I had no clue what a billboard girl even was. But I smiled, took the business card, and promptly forgot about the whole thing.
A Hard Right Turn That Changed Everything
Two months later, I was driving to another contest when I spotted a construction sign: "Coming soon: Hooters." Something clicked. I made a hard right into that parking lot, and that spontaneous decision became the defining moment of my career.
The founders pitched me on becoming the face of their brand—wearing the uniform, doing photo shoots, the whole package. The catch? I'd have to quit my steady job as a telephone operator to become a waitress. One of the founders, Ed Droste, sold me on the idea with promises of "world fame." Young and adventurous, I thought: why not give it a shot?
Scrubbing Fridges While Waiting for Fame
I quit my job in July 1983, expecting us to open in early August. Then September came and went. Licensing issues kept pushing back our opening, and I was getting anxious—I had bills to pay and no income.
When I told Ed I desperately needed work, he connected me with another owner, Gil DiGiannantonio. They put me to work scrubbing refrigerators, stoves, and kitchen equipment for five dollars an hour. That was one long September, let me tell you. We finally opened our doors in October.
The Early Days: Controlled Chaos
The first Hooters was nothing like the polished chain restaurants you see today. We were making it up as we went along, figuring out what worked through trial and error.
I remember when Gil wanted to fire one of our waitresses, Brenda, for "wasting product." Her crime? When someone asked for a napkin, she'd grab an entire spool of paper towels from the back and drag it through the restaurant like a train. I fought for her to stay. "She's making people laugh!" I argued. "This is who we are—we're fun!" Gil listened, and Brenda stayed.
Those early months were barely controlled chaos, but they were absolutely exhilarating. The downside? We weren't making money. I worked double shifts, sometimes three in a row, just to scrape by. We tried everything we could think of to bring customers through the door.
Then, around spring break of 1984—about six months after opening—everything changed overnight. Suddenly, we had lines stretching out the door for hours. The energy was electric. I'd never witnessed such explosive growth before or since.
Guerrilla Marketing Before It Had a Name
Hooters' success came down to outrageous, creative marketing. Ed Droste was the mastermind, willing to try absolutely anything for publicity.
We'd wake up at 5:30 in the morning to deliver platters of fresh wings to local radio stations, hoping for a chance to promote ourselves on air. We got plenty of doors slammed in our faces at first, but we kept showing up.
Ed and Brenda—yes, paper towel Brenda—once painted "HOOTERS" in bright orange letters on a capsized boat along the busy Courtney Campbell Causeway. Ed would stand outside in a chicken suit to draw people in. We put up a billboard featuring me in the now-iconic orange shorts and white t-shirt. I even modeled for Playboy to generate buzz.
It was all about getting attention, and it worked.
Watching My Face Become a Brand
I never imagined that one billboard photo would evolve into what Hooters became. Eventually, my image was everywhere—on taxi cabs, on the sides of delivery trucks, in magazines. Every time I spotted myself somewhere new, it gave me a thrill.
As the company expanded, my role grew too. I helped open new locations, contributed to the annual calendar, and participated in the pageant. Some of my proudest moments include dropping the flag at the Hooters 500 race and marching on Washington in 1995 to protest a discrimination case against the company.
More Than Just a Concept
Yes, sex appeal was always part of the Hooters formula. But after 42 years, I can tell you that Hooters and its waitresses represent so much more than that initial concept.
The Hooters Girls became my sisterhood. Some of those women stood beside me as bridesmaids at my wedding and were there when my children were born. We've supported each other through every high and low imaginable. I still keep in touch with many of them, including my friend Brenda.
Full Circle
I worked as a Hooters waitress and guest bartender for about seven years before branching into other roles—radio, local TV—where I continued promoting the brand I helped build.
Looking back now, I hope I played an integral part in shaping what Hooters became. I still participate in events, judging the annual pageant and helping select the calendar. Besides being a mom to my four kids, being the original Hooters Girl has been the ride of my life.
From that chance encounter on Clearwater Beach to becoming the face of an international brand, it's been an incredible journey—one that started with a hard right turn into a construction site parking lot.