25 Ways Fast Food is Glamorized

Padma Lakshmi is getting quite a bit of heat this morning for her sultry ad for Hardee's, but let's face it: Fast food is a tough sell these days. Marketers have their hands full, what with the simultaneous expansion of waistlines and a burgeoning segment of the population that's super health-conscious.

The articles in this cluster all show how fast food has been made glamorous or upscale. Sometimes a fast food brand does this by aligning itself with someone who has established culinary credibility, as Hardee's has done with Padma Lakshmi. McDonald's has employed Princess Di's old designer to work on their stodgy uniforms, while Burger King has released a signature line of perfume.

Read all about these and more below.