Local Talent Places In Hooters G-String Quintet - by Ozona Kidd

Janet Layug, representing Lakeland, FL won the 4th place runner up in the recent Miss Hooters International during the 14th Annual Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant. 

You may remember Janet as she was recently featured in the article Hanging by a String – Backstage at Stroker’s Bikini Contest here on whatshottampabay.com (if you saw the article, she’s tough to forget).

We knew she would go on to greater things, but congratulations Janet, you outdid yourself - you go girl!

Janet was competing among 100 other contestants who were selected from 455 Hooters Restaurant locations in 29 different countries.  The pageant was held at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, FL and was broadcast live on Spike TV.

Not just another pretty face, and let’s be honest that’s not the only thing you notice about her in a bikini, Janet competed in a variety of styles from evening gowns to swimsuits. 

Aside from being a colloquial term for the part of the female physique to which the name refers, Hooters is perhaps most famous (or infamous) for demonstrating that guys will put up with drinking beer out of plastic mugs, eating chicken wings at picnic tables and wiping their buffalo sauce smeared, drooling mouths with those little moist towelettes just to be waited on by a beautiful woman in a tight white t-shirt and a pair of skimpy shorts. 

Oh well, I guess that’s the way god made us (sigh...)

The contestants were judged by a panel of lucky bastards, err… I mean celebrity judges including: Chelsea Lately’s, Chuy Bravo; E! Entertainment host, Michael Yo; reality TV series Survivor star and former Hooters Girl, Jerri Manthey; rock musician, Ryan Cabrera and former member of Pussycat Dolls, Ashley Roberts. The show was hosted by Dan Cortese and back stage co-host Carrie Keagan during the live broadcast live on Spike TV.

This year’s contest was quite lucrative with many prizes and opportunities for the top finishers.  The first place prize, awarded to LeAngela Davis, a Hooters Girl from Columbus, Ohio, included $50,000, the cover of Hooters Magazine, and feature roles in national marketing campaigns and TV commercials for the restaurant chain.

In addition to our girl Janet who took home a cool $7,000 with the 4th place runner up were the other finalists including first runner up Rachel Mortenson, representing Phoenix, AZ ($15,000 prize); second runner up Ashleigh Dunn, from Newnan, GA ($10,000) and third place runner up Susan Murray, representing Katy, TX winning $8,000.

Finishing out the top 10 finalists in no particular order are Theresa Trujillo from Campbell, CA; Chelsie Hurst, representing Saginaw, MI; Elizabeth Johnston representing Central Carolina; Tia Jackson from Saugus, MA and Lindsay Way representing Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Finalists who placed 5th through 10th all received $2,000 each, but no flowers! 

What’s up with that?

Ms. Photogenic was awarded to Sam Arena representing Hooters of Cumberland, GA in Atlanta, who received a professional photo shoot valued at $5,000. Miss Congeniality was awarded to Jamaica Nicolson from South Africa who received $2,500. In recognition Hooters international expansion, the Miss Hooters World award and $5,000 was given to Naty Gaviria representing Colombia. 

I bet they all got flowers!

Special Thanks to Bill Eadie for photos of Janet Layug, copyright 2010 Bill Eadie Photography

Hooters Top 5 Winners from Left to Right: Susan Murray, Rachel Mortenson, LeAngela Davis, Ashleigh Dunn and Janet Layug.