ALICE TOWN, BIMINI— The popular Hooters International Calendar, which sells
nearly 500,000 copies annually, will feature the historic Big Game Club Resort
and Marina and the beauty of Bimini as part of its 2015 edition.
A contingent of Hooters Calendar hopefuls will be coming to
the popular Bahamas out-island for a four-day photo shoot and stay at the
51-room resort in Alice Town, which has a long history of hosting international fishing tournaments as
well being a playground for many celebrities from Hollywood’s Golden Age and a
retreat for Dr. Martin Luther King.
South Florida Hooters franchisee Dale “Champ” Regnier, a
sportsfisherman and frequent visitor, worked with resort manager Michael Weber
to coordinate details for the shoot, which is scheduled from June 2-5.
The Hooters brand, which is 31 years old, has been producing
the popular selling calendar for the last 28 years.
According to Doug Vollmer, head photographer and calendar
project director, 5,000 apply to model for the annual calendar of which 300 are
shortlisted for photography sessions in locales such as Bimini, the British
Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, Exumas, Abacos and Mexico. From those shoots, a final group of 200 are
selected for the calendar.
How many might make the calendar from the Bimini shoot?
“The hope is that by taking them to such a beautiful
location as Bimini and the Big Game Club for a multiple day shoot should
increase their chances,” said Kristi Quarles, Director of Marketing and Public
Affairs for Hooters.
Quarles said the models selected for Bimini are from Florida
Hooters restaurant locations.