Nikki Sexson's promenade down Main Street in a studded bikini and black leather jacket - for the sake of a beer commercial - drew more attention from shoppers than windows filled with wares.
"Normally I wouldn't be caught dead in this outfit here," explained the Ogden woman. "I had people staring at me. I would have zipped up the jacket, but it was too hot."For the prospect of brief fame, Sexson and other local extras transformed themselves into biker babes for the Budweiser commercial filming here until Thursday.
With their plunging, heart-shaped necklines, the women bared nearly as much skin as the fictional Swedish Bikini Team in a competitor's beer ad.
Hundreds of curiosity seekers lined Main Street. But to the disappointment of shopkeepers, they weren't eyeing the merchandise. They were gawking at the costumed brigade of motorcyclists.
"It's one of the highlights of our week," said Linda Fletcher, who in honor of the occasion was sipping a cold beer under the scorching afternoon sun.
But to some, the sight of scantily clad women and Harley-Davidson motorcycles on Main Street was nearly as alarming as the thought of having a city-sponsored beer blast.
"In my opinion, it was inconsistent with the values of the majority of the citizens. I think the majority of the city doesn't want to have Brigham City identified with a beer commercial," said Mayor Clark Davis.
For that reason, last Thursday he recommended City Council members vote against letting Propaganda Film Co. use the downtown as a backdrop. But the three voting members approved the filming.
The mayor, who does not have a vote on the council, said he wants to straighten out an incorrect report that the city treasury will receive $51,000 for the filming. That figure estimated how much the Los Angeles-based film crew will spend in Utah during its stay.
But most of that money won't be pouring into Brigham City businesses. The crew is staying at Ogden hotels and renting cars in Salt Lake City.
The mayor's opposition to being associated with Budweiser doesn't bother Timothy Schoen, an Anheuser-Busch brand manager.
"The city's conservative nature is not an issue with us. We're primarily looking for the location," he said. "We normally shoot on the set in California. But this is by far and away more superior to any set we could build."
Although the production company hired 15 local crew members and 10 extras, the firm had to send out for a genuine Hells Angels biker.
"There are no Hells Angels here. They had to hire me out in Los Angeles," said Doug Ford.
Those heading the production did not offer an explanation as to why the company specifically needed a Hells Angel biker to gussy up the vintage motorcycles for the ad expected to air in October.