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I’m the first openly trans Hooters girl – my colleagues were shocked when I told them but I had to prove doubters wrong
She was welcomed with open arms until she came out on TikTok
A TRAILBLAZING waitress has become the first-ever openly trans woman to work as a Hooters girl.
Erica Carosella said she was laughed at for dreaming of working there, but she's proved her haters wrong.
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After coming out as transgender at the age of 14, Erica said her Hooters aspirations were knocked back by her teachers.
“My two teachers laughed and were like, 'Yeah, as if that's going to happen,' or something along those lines," said the Oxford, Pennsylvania resident.
"So, when I graduated, I wanted so badly to just prove them wrong.
Determined to clap back at her doubters, she landed the role five years later when she was 19.
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But at first, she kept her sexuality hidden, insisting it "doesn’t have anything to do" with her work.
“The reason I decided to apply to Hooters in the first place was that while I was in high school, I remember making a remark about wanting to become a Hooters girl to some classmates," said the now-23-year-old.
“Next thing you know I am the first trans Hooters girl.
"It wasn't even a goal of mine, I just wanted people to know that I could do it and I could do it well.”
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She decided to keep her true identity hidden from the vast majority as she believed she still fit the requirements to don the iconic orange shorts and white tank top.
“I didn't feel the need to tell the company that I was transgender as I am female, and it did not have anything to do with my work ethic or the ability to do my job," she said.
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“I was far into my transition, my records such as my driver's license and birth certificate.
"Everything reflected me as Erica and female.
“Everything they chose to hire me for such as my experience, my work ethic, and my appearance all lined up with what they wanted at the time.
"I checked off all the marks on the list — none of which involved me being transgender."
THE TRUTH COMES OUT
During her time at the popular restaurant chain, Erica spilled her secret to her closest colleagues, which left them gobsmacked.
She adores her position and receives lots of positive comments from her regular customers.
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But she admitted that occasionally, patrons would cross the line with inappropriate touching.
Erica decided to unveil her secret on TikTok when her Hooters branch was temporarily closed.
There, she claimed to be the first-ever openly transgender woman.
OUT OF A JOB
Before her big reveal, Erica said she was assured her job was safe when the branch reopened.
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But when the doors finally swung back open, she was met with radio silence — while her colleagues were welcomed back with open arms.
“My manager always was always thanking me for my hard work," she said.
"I kept up my looks and the customers loved me, so I didn't understand why they wouldn't rehire me, but one can only suspect.
“I would make a tip at every table. I would only get stiffed if a girl was paying and thought I was flirting with her boyfriend, which trust me would not ever happen.”
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Not one to back down, Erica went to the restaurant in person, only to be told she’d need to reapply.
Caters News has reached out to Hooters for comment but has not received a formal statement.
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