Melissa King facts for kids

Melissa King is a famous American chef and TV star. She was born on October 11, 1983. Melissa is well-known for being on the cooking show Top Chef.

She first appeared on Top Chef: Boston (Season 12) and finished in fourth place. Later, she came back for Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. (Season 17) and won the competition! Melissa is great at making modern Californian food with amazing Asian flavors.

Melissa King's Early Life and Education

Melissa King grew up in Los Angeles, California. She is the younger of two sisters. Her parents moved to Los Angeles from Hong Kong in the late 1960s. Her mother was an aerospace engineer, and her father was an electrical engineer.

Melissa first 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 Hyde Park, New York. She earned a degree in culinary arts.

Melissa King's Culinary Career

Melissa King 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 many top chefs. These chefs had earned Michelin-star awards or were recognized by James Beard. Some of them included Dominique Crenn and Ron Siegel.

She worked at several famous restaurants in the Bay Area. These included Campton Place, Luce, and The Dining Room. Melissa also became a chef ambassador for Whole Foods Market. She was even named one of the "Best Female Chefs in San Francisco."

Becoming a Top Chef Champion

Melissa became famous across the country after being on Top Chef. She was a finalist on Season 12, Top Chef: Boston. She finished in fourth place.

Later, Melissa was invited back for Season 17, Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.. This was the show's second all-stars season. She won the competition and received a grand prize of $250,000! She was also voted the "fan favorite" of Season 17. This earned her another $10,000. Melissa donated this money to several non-profit groups. 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 contestant. She has said that her time on Top Chef changed her career goals. She realized she could do anything she wanted. Today, Melissa owns a company that creates food partnerships and experiences. She also makes her own line of special sauces called King Sauce.

Melissa King's TV Appearances

Melissa King was a finalist on Top Chef (season 12) in 2014. She won Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. in 2020. She has also been a guest judge on Top Chef (season 18) and Top Chef (season 19).

In 2021, Melissa appeared in the Sesame Street: See Us Coming Together Special. This show celebrated the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community. In 2022, she was a guest judge on Food Network’s The Julia Child Challenge.

Other Appearances

Melissa has attended many big food and music festivals. In the U.S., these include Coachella, Outsidelands, and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

Melissa King's Personal Life and Activism

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

She was honored as a Grand Marshall for San Francisco Pride in 2016. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Melissa spoke out against anti-Asian racism. She joined a public service campaign by Ad Council.

Melissa hosts online cooking events. The money raised from these events helps charities. Some of these charities are The Okra Project, No Kid Hungry, and The Trevor Project.

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