Candice Kumai

Candice Kumai is an American author and chef based in New York City. Born in California to a Japanese mother and Polish-American father, Kumai has one sister. She began her career as a model during her teenage years before training as a professional chef in Southern California. In 2006, Kumai competed on the first season of Top Chef, becoming the youngest chef on the show. She later became the host of Lifetime's Cook Yourself Thin. Kumai is known for her approach to cooking, which is influenced by her Japanese American heritage. She has also been involved in initiatives such as 1,000 Days and became a Kirin brand ambassador in 2014. Kumai's books in the Clean Green series have achieved bestseller status and she is a contributing editor to Shape Magazine.