Hailey Welch, now colloquially known as the “Hawk Tuah girl,” filed a variety of trademark applications earlier this month, including one for “Bet On That Thang.”
The filings were made by 16 Minutes LLC — a Tennessee based limited liability corporation that appears to be named as a reference to “15 minutes of fame.” Welch is from the Volunteer State and while some might argue her 15 minutes are up or expired some time ago, she’s milking it for all it’s worth as highlighted by trademark applications for comedy shows, condiments, gum, hats, mouthwash, sunflower seeds and shirts in addition to sports betting.
For those not in the pop culture know, Welch rose to internet stardom (or infamy) last month when in a man on the street interview conducted in Nashville by the YouTube channel Tim & Dee TV she made an onomatopoeia in reference to the release of saliva during a particular sexual act.
You gotta give ’em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang,” said Welch in a response to a sexually charged question.
From there, “Hawk Tuah Girl” was born.
Will Hawk Tuah Girl Make Gaming Inroads?
It’s common for athletes and celebrities to file trademarks and patent applications and not make use of them upon award. That could be the case with Welch or she could continue capitalizing on her instant stardom and carve out a niche in the betting world.
“Bet On That Thang trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of sports betting services; Wagering services; Arranging of contests featuring casino gaming; Entertainment services, namely, casino gaming,” according to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Welch has some favorables in her corner. Online sports wagering is legal in Tennessee so she could take a localized approach. Or she could become a paid endorser of an established gaming company, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility considering she’s legitimately famous among Gen Z and millennial men — the demographics sportsbook operators crave.
With football season fast-approaching, Welch’s foray into sports betting, if it materializes, could prove well-timed.
Hawk Tuah Girl Already Has Loose Gaming Ties
Welch already has some ties to the gaming industry. Her first paid appearance following the now infamous June video occurred on July 8 at the Daer Dayclub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fl. That venue is owned and operated by Hard Rock International, which is controlled by the Seminole Tribe.
She was there to judge a bikini contest and TMZ reported she was paid $30,000 for the appearance. Dubbed a “charming Gen Z Dolly Parton” by Rolling Stone, Welch has signed a representation with Penthouse and there’s rumors of her staring in her own reality television series.
She’s also used her new found fame for good, leveraging fresh social media notoriety to call attention to animal shelters in the Nashville area.
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