Anyone familiar with Wendy’s will also know the freckle-faced girl with the red braided pigtails pictured in its logo, a beacon of hope to fast food enthusiasts.

But the image is more than a caricature of some girl – it “unintentionally” makes people crave some of mom’s home cooking, a sense of comfort that the restaurant reflects.

In 1969, when Dave Thomas (1932 to 2002) opened the now iconic Wendy’s, the fast-food tycoon wanted the restaurant to reflect the wholesome and inviting demeanor of his fourth child, daughter Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas (now Morse).

“He wanted a character, because he worked for the Colonel at Kentucky Fried Chicken and knew how much that persona mattered,” Wendy explained of the logo that she has a starring role. “He said, ‘Wendy, pull your hair up in pigtails.’ So, I did. He got his camera and took pictures of me and my sister and said, ‘Yep, it’s going to be Wendy’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers.’”

Over the years, the menu has expanded beyond old fashioned burgers, a delicious Frosty or a bowl of hot chili. And the logo, that’s packed with nostalgic power, has had a subtle tweak to the image of the redheaded girl in a blue and white striped dress.

Imprints your brain

In its recent redesign about a decade ago, Wendy’s retained the essence of the original logo while giving it a fresher look. The updated version subtly softened the features of the mascot and refined the typography, ensuring it appealed to new generations without alienating long-time fans. This delicate balance of modernity and tradition keeps the logo timeless while still invoking a sense of the past.

After inspecting the latest design, some people determined that the fast-food restaurant is trying to tease our brains with “a subliminal message on the collar of the brand’s poster girl.”

“Some say that this makes you associate the brand with the comfort of home cooking. Although this is something you may not notice consciously for years, it will leave an imprint on your brain,” writes a commercial logo expert about Wendy’s brilliant branding.

Do you see it? Look closely and you’ll see “mom” written on Wendy’s frilled collar. And once you spot it, you can’t unsee it!

According to Business Insider, the “mom” effect is most noticeable in the monochromatic red version of the logo, often seen on Wendy’s Styrofoam cups. The illusion arises from the curve of the ruffled neckline.

Addressing the rumors, a Wendy’s spokesperson stated: “We are aware of this and find it interesting that our Wendy cameo has ‘mom’ on her ruffled collar. We can assure you it was unintentional.”

Though the hidden mom theory has been debunked, the association of Wendy’s with warmth and family values remains a hallmark of the brand.

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