Nykia Hamilton, an African American mother and Burger King employee from Irmo, South Carolina, went viral after a customer filmed her calmly managing the entire restaurant alone. She was recently honored with only $500 for her hard work and dedication.
On that day, Nykia managed the drive-thru, front counter, and kitchen by herself. Despite the pressure, she kept the restaurant moving and greeted every customer with a smile.
One of those customers was Charleston resident Deja Wright, who stopped in with her family. Impressed by Nykia’s composure, she recorded a short video and posted it online.
The video spread quickly, drawing praise from parents, workers, and strangers who related to her determination. Messages poured in from people who saw her as a symbol of resilience.
Local station WACH FOX took notice and invited both women in for what they believed was an interview. Instead, they were each handed $500 as part of the station’s Pay It Forward program.
Nykia was moved to tears, saying, “I can’t believe this.”
Deja responded, “Oh my god, hold on — this was supposed to be about her. You keep doing it, mama, because you got this. She deserves this, honestly. Do it for your babies, do it for everybody. Everybody’s watching you — you are absolutely incredible.”
