ORANGE PARK – Emily Johnson, a longtime employee at Hooters on Wells Road, returned to Northeast Florida after a life-changing achievement on the big stage in Las Vegas on Aug. 4. 

After working as a server since 2017, she was crowned Miss Hooters International 2023 at the Annual Miss Hooters International Pageant at Caesars Palace.

“It’s a dream for anyone that comes to this company. [Hooters] has built me into who I’ve become today. I never thought I would actually be able to hold this title. When I heard my name, I was overwhelmed and was just very proud of who I am,” she said. 

The pageant included an interview modeling a swimsuit round, where she impressed hosts and judges like UFC fighter Bobby Green, former Miss Ukraine Natalia Shvachko and Chase Elliott’s rear tire changer Chad Avrit. Hooters sponsors Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

“I just told myself to remember the five points about who I am today because of the (Hooters) brand. I was able to take that deep breath, let my stress out, and speak from my heart,” Johnson said. 

Johnson had already earned Hooters Girl of the Year accolades in 2022, and she’s been featured in the Hooters calendar four times.

She’s thrilled to bring the title home to the restaurant that’s been home for the last six years.

“It’s just like bringing (Miss Hooters International) back home because of the people that I’ve gotten to meet. It’s a home away from home. It’s nice to be able to celebrate with people that I can call friends and family,” Johnson said. 

In the coming months, she will serve as the face of the world-famous restaurant’s brand by contributing to marketing initiatives and special events, including leading Elliott’s crew at NASCAR races.

The glitz and glam weren’t the original plans for the soft-spoken, hardworking woman. With the win in Vegas also came $30,000. The money will be used for her education. She will return to occupational therapy school. 

Johnson studied the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at the Florida State College of Jacksonville for one year. But with student loan debts to worry about, she was in a bind. Now, she will return to pursue her dreams, which were always to earn a doctoral degree in occupational therapy. 

“I’m in between programs, so now, I will choose whichever (path in the field) is suitable for me. I’ll be able to put more (effort) into it since I won’t be pulling out student loans,” Johnson said. 

Her drive, passion, and motivation for occupational therapy are driven by watching her brother battle brain cancer when she was a child.

“My reason (for pursuing a career in occupational therapy) is because of my brother. We’ve had a lot of things going on within my family, and (after) watching the rehab team, it really brought me to the point that I wanted to do it. That’s why I’m continuing my education in therapy,” she said. 

Johnson briefly enjoyed the big win, but it didn’t take long for her to get back into the Clay County community. She was at the Orange Park Hooters alongside colleagues on Saturday, Aug. 12 for a car wash event to raise money for the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville. All proceeds went straight back to the charitable organization.

“It’s nice to be a part of a company that allows us to have the voice to give back to the community. It’s amazing to do that at a place where you are around people in the community that care just as much as we do, honestly,” she said.