By MARLON SCOTT | Senior Staff Writer

Mallory Clark is suddenly very busy with a lot of options to consider.

Clark is a junior at APSU majoring in pre-veterinary medicine and agricultural science. She recently came to Tennessee from San Diego, Calif. and loves animals.

Adding the fact Clark supports herself and her current school career by working part time at multiple jobs does not necessarily elicit a raised eyebrow.

Clark has probably unintentionally elicited more than one eyebrow elevation working as a waitress at Hooters.

That fact alone would make some start scanning Facebook looking to add her as a friend while others hide their children.

Last October, Clark began to catch a lot of undivided attention when she discovered she had been chosen to appear in the Hooters 2010 calendar.

And to Clark, being chosen for the calendar was a complete surprise.

“When you’re a Hooters girl everybody wants to make the calendar and do the contest,” Clark said. “I decided to try out and made it. It was a real big shock for everybody.”

Clark’s primary passion is helping animals. Working at Hooters was just a sideline to help support her financially.

She prefers the work she does at Walden’s Puddle, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Joelton, Tenn. She also worked as an intern for an elephant sanctuary last summer.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” Clark said. “It’s hands on. We do birds of prey. Any kind of native wild life, we take care of, that’s been orphaned, hit by a car, shot, anything like that.”

Now, in addition to school and her work with animals, Clark is taking advantage of her notoriety to explore new fields of interest.

“I’m constantly doing calendar signings, networking with new people, advertising,” Clark said.

“I never was really interested in the area of broadcasting or networking, marketing and now I love it. Meeting new people is fantastic.”

Clark also said she will be testing to become a certified personal trainer next month.

The beginning of her ascension to Hooters 2010 calendar girl began last February.

It took nine months before she found out she had made the calendar.

Clark said she submitted photos of herself and then waited until called to do a photo shoot with photographer Todd Farren in June.

From there, the board of directors choose the best photos for the calendar. Clark and other women who participated in the June photo sessions did not find out who made the calendar until after it was made.

Clark distinctly remembers checking the calendar to see if she made it.

“It was very nerve racking. But it was neat,” Clark said. “When you see your picture you get really excited.”

Clark is pictured on the November spread. She is one of 12 smiling women posing in swimwear on the page. In the picture Clark is wearing a brown bikini with a belt hanging low on her hips.

Her picture is next to the actual calendar for the month which is quite small compared to the pictures.

Clark understands not everyone is a fan of Hooters and its calendars. However, she is not letting criticism ruin her experience.

“Give it a try. I was one of those people actually. I never stepped into Hooters until I applied for a job,” Clark said.

“I thought it was a tacky, immoral place. But once you start working there, its family. Tons of kids come in there and we just have a great time.”

Share