Pageant News Bureau - Hooters 2007

With the polar ice vanishing, the debate over global warming is just about done. The heat won the argument hands down. The sun feels like July, no matter what the calendar says. The endless summer has arrived.

With the cold times banished, PNB has to adjust. We've thrown away our long johns. (It was either that or wash them.) We drink lemonade year-round. And we affirm that it's always bikini time.

The Miss Hooters International Pageant for 2007 took place in Las Vegas in the high summer, when days stretch toward bedtime. Now the days are shorter, and the fashions say it's fall, but the summer feels as real as ever. Do these Hooters girls look out of date?

Breanne Ashley, representing the Hooters in the stately but pageant-happy town of Newnan, Ga., was the winner. She was selected from among more than 125 Hooters Girls from around the world as Miss Hooters International 2007. Among the many prizes and opportunities that accompany the crown, this 4-year veteran of the cheeky restaurant chain will take home $50,000 cash as well as be featured in Hooters Magazine, national marketing campaigns and TV commercials. She's on pageant.com. In short, she's a legend.

This year's Pageant, hosted by Chris Rose, was held at Planet Hollywood's Theatre of Performing Arts. The judges were wonderful dudes from the world of sports and entertainment. And they were a sporting, entertaining bunch.

The top five included first runner-up Natalie Pandorf (representing Tampa), second runner-up Sara Hoots (representing Selma, Texas), third runner-up Megan Brady (representing San Francisco) and fourth runner-up Randi Jackson (representing Jacksonville, Fla.). Rounding out the top 10 finalists were Candace Pittman (Long Beach, Calif.); Nichole Kelly (New York State); Nesie Daglis (Downtown Atlanta); Amanda Vallee (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Erin Mol (Memphis, Tenn.).

Applause and confetti, as the winner of the 2007 Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant is crowned.

Top 5 (L to R): Randi Jackson of Jacksonville, Fla.; Natalie Pandorf from Tampa, Fla.; Breanne Ashley, from Newnan, Ga.; Megan Brady from San Francisco, Calif. and Sara Hoots from Selma, Texas.

Far left: Miss Hooters World: Viviana Leiva, representing Guatemala was selected from international contestants from 7 countries.

Center: Miss Photogenic: Megan Brady (representing San Francisco, CA), also finished as 3rd Runner Up.

Contestants from Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Austria and Guatemala traveled a long way to Las Vegas to compete for more than $150,000 in
cash and prizes. Viviana Leiva (representing Guatemala) was selected from the international contestants to represent Miss Hooters World. She received $5,000 cash with her new title.

Hooters, already an empire of fine dining and fun, wants to be the powerhouse of the pageant world. It's armies of Hooters girls will be hard to stop.

With bikini queens like these, don't you wish the summer would never end? OK, wish granted.