Florida woman waits tables at Hooters—then she gets pregnant. What does that mean for her job?: ‘I know you be getting hella tips’
Hooters doesn’t exactly have the classiest reputation, but boy howdy is it beloved. Affectionately called a “breastaurant” by its clientele, the massive chain—whose very branding is decidedly more on the adult side—promises a “deliciously tacky, yet unrefined” experience. This lightheaded slogan, however, hasn’t delivered fun for everyone.
Hooters’ entire gimmick is, arguably, centered on women’s breasts—so much so that the chain has been repeatedly called out for “objectifying women” and being “a sanctuary for misogynists.” Some folks went as far as to protest a location being opened in their city. Hooters has even faced criticism regarding alleged racial profiling and other allegedly discriminatory practices.
That being said, it still was—and is—popular with a huge chunk of American diners and waitresses alike, with many women saying they enjoyed working at Hooters. Some even called the experience “empowering.”
Hooters has still maintained its power to spark discourse, though, even as the chain has pivoted to being more “inclusive” and “family friendly.” One video featuring a Hooters waitress is currently going viral for such discourse.
Hooters server gets pregnant
In a viral video posted on Oct. 15, 2025 that has racked up over 3.2 million views, Hooters waitress Melissa Konchinski (@mkonchinski on TikTok) is dressed in the iconic white Hooters top with matching orange shorts. Serving looks from head to toe, Konchin lip syncs to a trending TikTok audio at her place of work.
The twist? She’s rocking a beautiful baby bump.
In the video, Konchinski and one of her fellow Hooters waitresses lip sync to a viral sound from the 2020 reality TV show, 1000-lb Sisters, made by TLC. The sound originates from a clip of the two titular sisters arguing about who has it worse due to their size.
Konchinski lip-syncs to the lines of the bigger sister in her video, good-naturedly poking fun at herself as a working mother who, according to her caption, is eight months pregnant.
“Try being my size, Amy,” Konchinski mouths along to the audio. “You don’t. Know. How. It is.”
Konchinski’s non-pregnant co-worker playfully lip syncs back, “There’s stuff you can do. You wanna be a big baby about everything!”
“I ain’t the [expletive] baby!” Konchinski retorts in-character. “You’re the [expletive] baby!”
While Konchinski seems to be recording in good fun, her video has inadvertently sparked a great deal of discourse in the comments section, with more than one eyebrow raised.
@mkonchinski I’m actually crying on how funny this is. #8months #prego #hooters ♬ original sound – tlc
Commenters are concerned
Overwhelmingly, viewers of Konchinski’s video seemed stressed by a woman having to be working, up on her feet, at eight months pregnant. Many couldn’t wrap their heads around it.
“I’m sorry but I could never let my pregnant wife work at hooters,” one viewer commented. “Or work in general. There’s no way.”
“Being pregnant as a hooters waiters is diabolical,” commented another. “Who convinced you to do this.”
Even international viewers were worried
“In France, you will be on maternity leave, fully paid until the baby is 3 months old,” wrote one person. “No French doctor, or even a European one, would let a pregnant woman work so late in her pregnancy!”
Konchinski liked that comment and responded with the truth of her situation.
“Well I live in America in Florida,” she wrote. “The bills are high, we are a two income household because we have to be. But that’s nice of them.”
Other viewers were surprised that Konchinski is still allowed to work as a waitress with a baby bump.
“I thought if you body every changes you get fired from hooters,” one commenter wrote.
“Not going to lie, the other day I was driving in the car and randomly thought ‘what happens if you get pregnant while working at Hooters; because of their ‘image’ I didn’t know if girls left or not,” another shared. “But this answers my question.”
Anti-discrimination laws bar employers from firing people for getting pregnant, and Hooters has even updated its policies such that it now offers specific maternity uniforms to its pregnant employees. One Hooters employee even reported her tips skyrocketing when waitressing as a pregnant woman.
One former Hooters employee even chimed in on the discussion under Konchinski’s video, expressing delight that norms have evolved over time.
“Retired hooter girl circa 95,” she wrote in the comments. “This wasn’t in the handbook. Glad to see they have changed.”
The Mary Sue has reached out to Konchinski via contact form and Hooters via email to request additional comment.
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