Father of woman who became the face of Wendy's franchise revealed why he regretted letting her do it

Wendy's is one of the most recognisable restaurants in the US, with its logo of a happy, smiling girl with brown pigtails.

But many people might not be aware that girl is Wendy Thomas Morse, the daughter of Dave Thomas, who founded Wendy's.

Wendy was just eight years old when her father decided that he was going to name his fast food restaurant after one of his five children.

In the end, it was Wendy who was chosen, with pictures from a photoshoot showing her with the distinctive pigtails and gingham dress from the logo.

Of course, the restaurant would go on to become wildly successful, and wherever they opened up a new franchise, Wendy's face went with it.

And this came with its own set of complications.

Wendy posing outside a restaurant (Will And Deni McIntyre/Getty Images)

Wendy recalled in an interview with PEOPLE that she would often find it difficult to share that she was actually famous.

"I mean, there were times I didn't want people to know because I didn't want them to have assumptions," she said.

Not only that, but she felt a lot of responsibility towards the business that she was the face of.

"But it was something I really took on as a responsibility and just was very proud," she said. "But I would never, if I met a lot of new people, I would never tell them who I was. It's usually someone else that says it. And then it gets awkward and then it gets all better."

Wendy even said that her father had come to regret his decision to name the restaurant after her due to the effect it had on her life.

Wendy when she posed for the picture (Wendy Thomas Morse/Wendy's)

"Probably 10 years before my dad passed, we talked about my name and namesake, and he just goes, 'I'm really sorry I did that to you,' which was really... to hear your father say, 'Probably should just named it Dave's and that'd been a lot easier,' was a lot," she said.

While she didn't hold it against her father, Wendy revealed that it was still a relief that he acknowledged it.

"And I said, 'Well, of course, but that's a long time ago.' But it was just nice to hear that he felt for me a little bit, like the pressure and the responsibility of being the namesake of a restaurant," she said.

Wendy went on to say that since losing her dad, the sign has even come to be a source of comfort.

"That was just a really cool moment for me and my dad," she said. "So it just keeps me going. And today, I look at the sign and I just see my dad."

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