MOST people would assume falling pregnant while working somewhere like Hooters may have a negative impact on tips.
But according to mum-of-two Scarlett Holybee, the opposite was true – and she was raking in the cash while eight months pregnant.
In fact, she took home an eye-watering £300 in tips when working six days before her induction.
Famed for its female waitresses, whose short-short uniforms play up their sex appeal, Hooters has enjoyed staggering success over the last four decades.
At the height of its powers, Hooters had more than 600 locations globally, but now that figure is down to 293.
Scarlett is a part-time employee at one of its branches in Oklahoma, US.
The hospitality job saw her through her pregnancy, so much so that she even hosted her baby shower in her restaurant.
The traditional Hooters uniform includes tight-fitting clothing and hot pants to serve up wings and beer.
However, because of her pregnancy, Scarlett was forced to adapt to it.
Whilst still opting for mini shorts, she wore a loose-fitting top to help cover her bump and distract customers from her pregnancy.
She claimed that the volume of tips she received from single men dropped when she was dishing up food while visibly pregnant.
In the US, hospitality workers rely heavily on their tips as restaurant and bar wages are so low.
The average hourly rate for a Hooters girl is $9.49 (£7.19) but the hard working mum bagged $77 (£58) in tips from a five-hour shift whilst in another shift, she made an extra $42 (£31).
Even with her growing belly and one child, Scarlett didn’t skimp on her pre-shift prep to bring in the cash.
She woke up early before shifts to apply a full face of make-up and do her hair, though sometimes she threw it into a messy bun.
When asked about whether she received more tips pre-pregnancy or during, Scarlett said: “Honestly, it’s around the same.
“I just get higher tips from families instead of single men [when I’m pregnant].”
Back in June, Hooters dramatically shuttered 40 of its restaurants without warning as fears mounted for the future of the US institution.
Branches in Florida, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia were closed.
Restaurant bosses blamed the rising price of food and rent.
