Melissa King facts for kids

Melissa King (born October 11, 1983) is an American chef and television personality. She is well-known for being on the TV show Top Chef. Melissa first competed on Top Chef: Boston and later won Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.. She is famous for her modern Californian cooking style, which often includes Asian flavors.

Early Life and Education

Melissa King grew up in Los Angeles, California. Her parents moved there from Hong Kong in the 1960s. Her mother was an aerospace engineer, and her father was an electrical engineer.

Melissa went to the University of California, Santa Barbara. She then transferred to the University of California, Irvine. There, she earned a degree in cognitive science.

After that, she studied at The Culinary Institute of America in New York. She earned a degree in culinary arts. Melissa is also a certified sommelier, which means she is an expert in wines.

Culinary Career Highlights

Melissa started her first kitchen job at age 17. She worked as a pastry assistant at the Getty Museum. For the next 10 years, she trained with famous chefs. These chefs had earned special awards like Michelin-stars.

She worked at several top restaurants in the Bay Area. Melissa also became a chef ambassador for Whole Foods Market. She was even named one of the "Best Female Chefs in San Francisco."

Top Chef Success

Melissa became nationally recognized after appearing on Top Chef. She was a finalist on Season 12, Top Chef: Boston, finishing in fourth place.

Later, she was invited back for Top Chef: All-Stars L.A., Season 17. Melissa won the competition and received a grand prize of $250,000. She was also voted the "fan favorite" of the season. She donated her $10,000 fan favorite prize to several charities. These included the Black Visions Collective and The Trevor Project.

Melissa has won more individual challenges in a single season than any other Top Chef competitor. She says her time on Top Chef changed her career goals. She realized she could do many things beyond just owning a restaurant.

Today, Melissa owns a company that creates culinary experiences. She also created King Sauce, her own line of special sauces.

Other Appearances

Melissa has appeared in modeling campaigns. She was part of a global Levi Strauss Pride Campaign in 2018. She also appeared in a Gap Inc. campaign in 2021.

She has been a guest judge on Top Chef: Portland and Top Chef: Houston. In 2021, Melissa appeared on a Sesame Street special. This episode celebrated the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community. In 2022, she was a guest judge on Food Network’s The Julia Child Challenge.

Melissa has also made appearances at big food and music festivals. These include Coachella and Outsidelands.

Advocacy and Community Work

Melissa King is a strong supporter of equality for all people. She also champions women's empowerment and protecting the environment. She believes in teaching young people about food.

She was honored as a Grand Marshall for San Francisco Pride in 2016. Melissa has spoken out against anti-Asian racism and harassment. This was part of a public service announcement campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Melissa hosts online cooking experiences. The money raised from these events goes to charities. Some of these charities include No Kid Hungry and The Trevor Project.

In 2020, Melissa was recognized on the Out100 list. This list honors people who have made a big impact in the LGBTQ+ community.