Melissa King

Melissa King was born on October 11, 1983, in Whittier, California, and grew up in Los Angeles. Her parents, Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong, instilled a strong work ethic. She pursued her academic interests by attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, and later transferring to the University of California, Irvine, where she earned a B.A. in cognitive science. Demonstrating a passion for culinary arts, she then enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where she obtained an A.A. in culinary arts. Melissa King began her professional culinary journey at age 17 as a pastry assistant at the Getty Museum. Over the next decade, she trained under Michelin-star and James Beard-recognized chefs, including Dominique Crenn and Ron Siegel, working in prestigious Bay Area restaurants such as Campton Place, Luce, and The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco. This foundation built her expertise in modern Californian cuisine infused with Asian flavors.

King gained national recognition through her appearances on the Bravo television series, Top Chef. She first competed on Season 12: Top Chef: Boston, where she finished fourth. Her return to the series for Season 17: Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. culminated in a victory, securing the US$250,000 grand prize. She also earned the “fan favorite” title for Season 17, donating her US$10,000 prize to non-profit organizations such as the Black Visions Collective, Asian Americans for Equality, Asian Youth Center, and The Trevor Project. Notably, she holds the record for the most single-season individual challenge wins in Top Chef history. Melissa King’s career extends beyond competitive cooking; she has transitioned her focus to a company specializing in culinary partnerships and experiences, and she is the creator of King Sauce, a line of signature sauces. She is also a certified Level 1 Sommelier and has cooked for notable figures like Oprah Winfrey and Al Gore.

Melissa King is also recognized for her advocacy and modeling work. She is openly queer and a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ equality, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, and food education for youth. Her modeling career includes a global Levi Strauss Pride Campaign in 2018 and the Gap Inc. SP21 Individual Anthems campaign in 2021, promoting diversity and advocacy. She has made numerous television appearances as a guest judge on Top Chef seasons 18 and 19, and Food Network’s The Julia Child Challenge. In 2021, she appeared in Sesame Street: See Us Coming Together Special, celebrating the AAPI community, and currently hosts ‘Tasting Wild’ on National Geographic via Hulu. As a community activist, she was awarded Grand Marshall for San Francisco Pride 2016 and recognized on Out magazine’s Out100 list in 2020 for her impact on the LGBTQ+ community. She hosts virtual cooking experiences with proceeds supporting various charities, raising over $40,000 for marginalized communities.