Odessa Hooters Girl Places In Top 10 Of Miss Hooters World Pageant

ODESSA, FL — Kiana Mahabir, who works at the Odessa Hooters, placed in the top 10 in the Miss Hooters International pageant in Las Vegas on Aug. 3.

Mahabir represented the Tampa Bay region and competed against 50 Hooters Girls from all over the globe for the title of 2023 “Miss Hooters International” and a cash prize of $30,000. This is the first time the Land O’ Lakes resident has competed in the Miss Hooters International Pageant.

“Being chosen to compete in the Miss Hooters International Pageant was a dream come true and little did I know I was going to place in the top 10," Mahabir said. "It was absolutely surreal hearing my name called on stage. The flood of emotion and happiness is something I can never forget. I am so thankful for my family and friends for always supporting me in every facet and my corporate team for shaping me into the person I am today. My experience being in the pageant was absolutely amazing and exceeded every expectation I had. Everyone was so kind and welcoming and I felt at home with the girls and my coaches."

Mahabir noted that she shared a room with Emily Johnson who was named Miss Hooters International.

"She gave me the confidence to be myself and encouraged me to work hard," Mahabir said. "I have no doubt she is going to be an amazing role model for other women as she was for me. I hope to attend next year's pageant with the goal of bringing home the crown."

Mahabir is 21 and has been working at the Odessa Hooters at State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway for two years. She has lived in Land O’ Lakes since the age of 2 and graduated from Sun Lake High School. Mahabir recently finished studying at Pasco Hernando State College and will attend the University of South Florida to study journalism and communications.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and giving back to local organizations while working at Hooters including volunteering at golf tournaments to benefit education and veterans, the American Cancer Society Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk, and fundraisers for Moffitt Cancer Center.

She appeared in the Hooters Calendar and had the opportunity to shoot for the 2024 Hooters Calendar. Odessa Hooters is located off State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway.

In addition to Mahabir, Caitlin Barkey, who works at the North Tampa Hooters location also had the opportunity to compete in this year’s pageant.

Hooters is celebrating 40 years in business on Oct. 4.

In honor of the anniversary, on the fourth of every month, Hooters will host “throwback” events bringing the '80s back. The next throwback event will take place on Sept. 4 in the Tampa Bay and Chicagoland Hooters locations.

As a thank you to their customers, Hooters in Tampa Bay and Chicagoland will be offering wings for only 83 cents on the fourth of every month. There will be several in-store specials throughout the year, including $19.83 crab legs and a $6 Tito’s Strawberry Lemonade cocktail in a Hooters Collectible Cup. Hooters Girls will be wearing '80s accessories for the throwback events.

In addition to the “throwback” events, Hooters will be bringing the legendary rock band Chicago to Clearwater for a good cause. Hooters, in conjunction with the city of Clearwater, are holding a benefit concert for breast cancer research. The Grammy award-winning group will be playing at The Sound at Coachman Park on Saturday, Oct. 7. Proceeds from the benefit concert will be donated to Moffitt Cancer Center and Morton Plant Mease Hospital. Ticket prices are $40, $25 and $9. All tickets can be purchased at RuthEckerdHall.com.

Hooters was created and fittingly incorporated on April Fool’s Day in 1983 by six businessmen: L.D. Stewart, Gil DiGiannantonio, “Uncle Billy” Ranieri, Ed Droste, Dennis Johnson and Ken Wimmer. Soon after, the doors to the first Hooters restaurant opened on Oct. 4 at 2800 Gulf-To-Bay Boulevard in Clearwater.

“We are proud to give back to the wonderful communities that have welcomed us for decades," said HMC Hospitality Group CEO Neil Kiefer. "With the help of our great customers and hundreds of thousands of Hooters Girls, we have raised and donated millions, starting from our first week in business."

HMC Hospitality Group owns and operates 22 Hooters Restaurants in Tampa Bay and Chicagoland and three Hoots locations in Chicagoland.

Participating Tampa Bay Hooters locations are:

• Hooters of Brandon (10023 E Adamo Drive, Tampa) 813-689-1188
• The Original Clearwater Hooters (2800 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater) 727-797-4008
• Hooters of Clearwater Beach (381 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater) 727-443-7263
• Hooters of John’s Pass (192 W Boardwalk Place E, Madeira Beach) 727-797-4668
• Hooters of North Tampa (13606 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa) 813-972-1682
• Hooters of Odessa (16070 State Road 54, Odessa)
• Hooters of Port Richey (5336 Treadway Drive, Port Richey) 727-841-0801
• Hooters of South Tampa (4420 W Gandy Blvd., Tampa) 813-835-5164
• Hooters of Spring Hill (3437 Commercial Way, Spring Hill) 352-666-9225
• Hooters of 4th St. (4125 4th Street N, St. Petersburg) 727-822-6178
• Hooters of Tampa/ Hillsborough (4215 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa) 813-885-3916