Tanya Hill-Holliday is a familiar name in the McDonald's franchise. But she wasn't always.
"I was told I wasn't supposed to be here, I was called every name BUT my name," she told CBS News.
Luckily, she didn't listen.
Now, she's the proud owner of a dozen McDonald's restaurants in Pennsylvania and her story of perseverance is inspiring others to dream big.
From Scrubbing Toilets to Making History as Philly’s First Black Woman to Own a McDonald’s
Tanya Hill-Holliday landed her first job working as a part-time crew member at McDonald's while attending Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
She was cleaning toilets, scrubbing baseboards, and wiping tables. It was far from glamorous. But that didn't matter, she enjoyed it anyway.
"I always enjoyed what I was doing, as difficult as it was to be told, 'You got to clean a table, you got to clean the toilets, you got to scrub the baseboards."
"'You got to do...' I did it."
Tanya Hill-Holliday via CBS Philadelphia
Upon graduating from university with a degree in management, she immediately jumped into the McDonald's management trainee program. She's never looked back.
From there, she crawled her way up the corporate ladder, from crew member to supervisor to assistant manager to vice president. Despite being constantly told she didn't belong, she ignored the haters, put her head down, and just kept on working.
It paid off.
She's Lovin' It!
Forty-four years and 13 positions later, Holliday is now the proud owner of a dozen restaurants.
Using her stock options, she bought her very first franchise in 2005. Today, it's worth over $1.5 million. Not only was it her first restaurant, it was a first in the Philly history books. She is recognized as the very first African American woman to own and operate a McDonald’s in the “City of Brotherly Love.”
Since then, she's purchased 11 more restaurants. Currently, she has more than 600 employees, some of whom have been with her from day one. She considers them all family.
And now, she's giving back. She serves as the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association Chair and CEO of 168 entities across the U.S. According to its website, the NBMOA is "the largest organization of established African American entrepreneurs in the world."
As the Chair and CEO, Holliday is committed to ensuring that "McDonald’s fully engages the African American community in an authentic, respectful, and positive manner." She plans to implement new and innovative programming to enrich the members and benefit the communities they serve.
Never Give up on Your Dreams
Holliday hopes her journey will inspire young people just starting out on theirs.
"When you think you've hit a brick wall, go over the wall, go around the wall — if you gotta go under the wall — do what you have to do but just don't let roadblocks stop you. Keep persistent. Be strong."
Tanya Hill-Holliday
A little praying doesn't hurt either.
"Stay motivated, stay encouraged, stay prayed up. I stay prayed up all the time," Holliday added.
With sheer perseverance and tenacity, Holliday proved her critics wrong. Not only that, but she went all the way, rising to the top AND making history. Not bad for a woman who started by scrubbing toilets.
Her story is an inspiration to all of us. A trailblazer and a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, she proves that determination, resilience, and the refusal to give up can lead to achieving even our wildest dreams.
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Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.