Step Aside, Waifs. Ronda Rousey Is Carl's Jr.'s Newest Sandwich-Devouring Ad Star

For years Carl's Jr.'s spots have had a consistent formula: Take one beautiful and scantily clad model that would probably never eat Carl's Jr., add a few double entendres that highlight the model's attributes, then mention the sandwich a few times. But lately the brand seems to be playing with consumers' expectations, and it's quite fun. Instead of the usual waifish model, the brand has now tapped undefeated MMA champion Ronda Rousey to introduce its Cinnamon Swirl French Toast Breakfast Sandwich. Here 72andSunny takes the public perception of Rousey—a merciless fighter known for her lightning-fast KOs—and then shifts to showing her lighter side. (You don't have to look much farther than Rousey's recent Reddit AMA to see how charmingly nerdy she can get when she starts talking Pokemon and video games.) And yes, playing up the sex appeal of a a female fighter could be seen as a less than progressive stance, especially for a brand with Carl's Jr.'s reputation. But the ad shows several sides of Rousey, making it clear that she, like most human beings, doesn't fit into any convenient stereotype. Plus, it's nice to see an ass-kicking spokeswoman who can actually take a bite out of the food they're meant to be selling. CREDITS Client: Carl's Jr. Chief Executive Officer: Andy Puzder Chief Marketing Officer: Brad Haley Senior Vice President, Product Marketing: Bruce Frazer Director of Advertising: Brandon LaChance Vice President, Field Marketing, Media and Merchandising: Steve Lemley Director, Product Marketing and Merchandising: Christie Cooney Product Director: Kathy Johnson Agency: 72andSunny Chief Creative Officer: Glenn Cole Group Creative Directors: Justin Hooper, Mick DiMaria Creative Directors: Tim Wettstein, Mark Maziarz Senior Designer: Gabo Curielcha Senior Writer: Chad Goodnoe Group Strategy Director: Matt Johnson Strategy Director: Kasia Molenda Strategist: Eddie Moraga Group Brand Director: Alexis Coller Senior Brand Manager: Scott Vogelsong Brand Coordinator: Anthony Fernandez Director of Film Production: Sam Baerwald Executive Film Producer: Molly McFarland Senior Film Producer: Juliet Diamond Junior Film Producer: Kira Linton Film Production Coordinator: Taylor Stockwell Business Affairs Director: Amy Jacobsen Business Affairs Manager: Maggie Pijanowski Business Affairs Coordinator: Calli Howard Public Relations: Coast Public Relations Founder, Chief Executive Officer: Jeanne Beach Hoffa Group Director: Melissa Penn Director: Kate Franklin Production Company: Wondros Director: Chris Applebaum Executive Producer: Timory King Head of Production: Doron Kauper Producer: John Hardin Editing: Whitehouse Post Editor: Paul LaCalandra Executive Producer: Joni Williamson Producer: Jonlyn Williams Editing: jumP LA Editor: Erwin Fraterman Executive Producer: Betsy Beale Producer: Callie Beckman Online Finishing: Brickyard VFX Visual Effects Producer: Diana Young Visual Effects Artists: Patrick Poulatian, Mandy Sorenson Telecine: BeachHouse Colorist: Mike Pethel Executive Producer: Denise Brown Audio, Sound Design: On Music and Sound Mixer, Sound Designer: Chris Winston Music: South Music Track: "South for Cinnamon Swirl" Written and Performed by: South UFC® footage provided by Zuffa LLC, ©2014-15

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Step Aside, Waifs. Ronda Rousey Is Carl's Jr.'s Newest Sandwich-Devouring Ad Star

Brand is into defying expectations these days

Kristina Monllos

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Kristina Monllos