A HOOTERS girl has defended a controversial change to the iconic uniform.
Server and calendar model Leah Fennelly admits the decision to dramatically shorten the shorts in October 2021 caused "a huge uproar" among her co-workers.
But the proud Hooters girl, who's worked there for six years, wasn't bothered.
"The new shorts were a huge uproar," the 24-year-old tells The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview.
"I liked them but people didn’t like them," she added.
After a backlash from staff over the shorts, which many felt resembled underwear, Hooters corporate gave women the option to wear either the old or new design.
"Tampa, Miami, a couple more in Arizona and some more are franchises and can wear the old shorts," Leah explained, but those who work for a franchise don't have a choice.
As more and more Hooters girls take to TikTok, strict rules about their hair and makeup have been going viral – but Leah insists it's not that bad.
“I’ve gotten really quick at doing makeup and hair," she says,
"The uniform can be a little difficult to get on sometimes and I don’t want to rip the tights.”
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Hooters only allow staff to wear a certain type of pantyhose, purchased from a vending machine at work with $5 of their own money every time the tights rip.
Even with the rip fears, Leah says she spends about an hour getting ready for each shift.
She considers herself "very go-with-the-flow," so she didn't mind many of the uniform rules, except one.
She explains: “Previously, Hooters used to be a lot more strict and nails had to be a certain color.
"I used to hate that I couldn’t wear red nails. They’re loosening up."
Leah has worked at Hooters since she was 18 and says her dad encouraged her into the job.
She explained: “My dad thought it was the coolest thing ever when I got hired.
"He took a picture of me in my uniform and thought it was great and hilarious. He said 'Go to work and make your money'."
Leah has modeled for ads and social media campaigns, participated in the Miss Hooters International pageant, and was selected to be in the brand's 2023 calendar.
Leah normally works from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and says the most she's made in one shift was $450.
On average though, her take-home pay is more like $150 – unless she has a regular, who'll tip $100 on a single tab.
On a slow Monday, she might make just $50, whereas, on UFC Fight Night, it's more like $400.
When asked about any secret to getting higher tips, Leah had a few tricks up her sleeve.
“I always like to sit down at the table and touch the table to establish contact. Eye contact, smile, ask questions, and ask how their day is going,” she said.
Leah says there can be "drama" at Hooters – but she doesn't like to get involved.
“If you put 30 girls into a workspace, there will be some kind of something. Some people do create drama, even though most stay out of it,” she admitted.
Leah has 172,900 followers on TikTok – and admits that there are both perks and downsides, saying: "Everyone has trolls."
“Even working in the store I received creepy comments, like 'I want my chicken wings naked like you',” Leah said.
For most of the time she has worked at Hooters, she has been single, but she now has a boyfriend who isn't fazed by her job or online fame.
She boasted in a TikTok video that the job made her feel "untouchable," because it completely changed her life and gave her the confidence she has today.
The most important thing she's gained from her time at Hooters is the ability to work hard and chase her dreams.
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