A Sao Paulo, Brazil, local was shining in Miami Beach on June 23 at the Hooters 16th Annual International Swimsuit Pageant where $100,000 in cash and prizes were at stake.
Evelise Giorge de Souza, 30, from Hooters of Sao Paulo, Brazil, was selected as Miss Hooters World, representing Hooters 27 international markets. Giorge de Souza has worked at the Hooters of Sao Paulo for almost two years.
"As my first pageant experience, it was a great opportunity to learn more about the company and meet other Hooters Girls from different cultures," said Giorge de Souza. "The best part about being a Hooters Girl is talking with people. It makes me happy when I see our customers having a fun time and I know that I provided them with the best service possible. Working at Hooters has given me the confidence to focus on my future and perhaps seek other opportunities to move up in the company."
The Hooters 16th Annual International Swimsuit Pageant was held at the Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater. Mark McGrath hosted the event with a celebrity panel of judges including: professional surfer Anastasia Ashley, the original Hooters Girl Lynne Austin, TV star and professional bodyguard Big Black, mixed martial arts UFC® fighter Stephan Bonnar, Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs, satellite radio host, professional skateboarder and mixed martial arts fighter Jason Ellis, and Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee. The judging panel also included Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient Sgt. Tommy Rieman, who received a heartfelt welcome from the audience, including the local servicemen and women Hooters invited to the pageant.
The Hooters Girl contestants were selected from more than 18,000 Hooters Girls who presently work in one of the 430 Hooters restaurants worldwide. The contestants received a spot in the pageant by competing in local swimsuit contests or were selected as the top Hooters Girl to represent their markets. Amanda Jemini of Boca Raton, Fla., was crowned Miss Hooters International 2012.
In addition to Jemini and Giorge de Souza, other winners included first runner-up Tyler Suess, Hooters of Rockford, Ill.; second runner-up Juliete Cabrera, Hooters of Doral, Fla.; third runner-up Victoria Brown, Hooters of Hollywood, Calif.; and fourth runner-up Morgan Whitworth, Hooters of Louisville, Ky. Rounding out the top ten finalists in alphabetical order are McKenzie Barentsen, Hooters of Denver, Colo.; Brittany Farmer, Hooters of Baton Rouge, La.; Jessica Lundy, Hooters of Columbia, S.C.; Ashley Pike, Hooters of Hiram, Ga.; and Afton Storton, Hooters of Anaheim, Calif.
On June 21, Chanticleer Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTRU), a business operator focused on expanding the Hooters casual dining restaurant brand in international markets, listed on The NASDAQ. The Company plans to use net proceeds from this offering for investment in Hooters international franchises.