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How did ‘Food Network Challenge’ judge Kerry Vincent die? Fans say Queen of Cakes was 'fierce, but always fair'

Known as the ‘Queen of Cakes’, 'Save My Bakery' host Kerry Vincent was deemed for her unique cake designing

‘Food Network Challenge’ judge Kerry Vincent, the Australian director and co-founder of the annual ‘Oklahoma Sugar Art Show’ and host of ‘Save My Bakery’, died at the age of 75 on January 2. Vincent is survived by her husband, Doug.

On Sunday, the non-profit organization, Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show put out a status, saying, “It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing of Kerry Vincent earlier this evening. Being a very private person when it came to all things, not cake, she did not want to put her illness out there to the public... Unfortunately her fight has come to an end but she will no longer have any pain. She will be sorely missed by all who she has touched through the Sugar Arts as well as personally. There will be no services per her request. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.”

Who was Kerry Vincent?

Known as the ‘Queen of Cakes’, Kerry Vincent was deemed for her unique cake designing and her book, ‘Romantic Wedding Cakes’, which was published in 2002. Later in 2004, she was inducted into the International Cake Exploration Societé (ICES) Sugarcraft Hall of Fame in Washington, DC. Vincent went on to star in multiple food shows next. She was one of the judges on the reality series ‘Food Network Challenge’ on the Food Network Cable television network. Along with that, she has also hosted shows like ‘Save My Bakery’, a nine-episode series where she reached out to struggling bakeries to help them keep afloat. She also founded the show ‘Grand National Wedding Cake Competition’, and hosted four one-hour special episodes for the Food Network, highlighting the skill of winning contestants in the Grand ‘National Wedding Cake Competition’. She was seen starring in ‘The Great Australian Bake Off’ as a judge in 2013. 

Vincent imparted her experience and knowledge through teaching in various institutions including El Atelier Del Azucar Bakery School in Santa Rosa District, Lima Province, Peru, and Macomb Culinary Institute in Warren, Michigan part of the Macomb Community College. In 2008, Vincent was featured in Brides magazine, for a special feature in the March–April issue of the magazine entitled "America's 50 Most Beautiful Cakes."

How did she die?

According to her non-profit organization, the judge of ‘Last Cake Standing’ died out of an unspecified illness. Vincent, always being private about her personal life, didn’t disclose the fight that she was battling by herself. With Vincent’s passing, she is no longer ‘in pain’, Oklahoma Sugar Art Show has written.

After the news of the Food Network star’s demise became public, her fans, peers, and industry professionals have been mourning. Australian celebrity chef Dan Lepard wrote, "Very sad to learn that Kerry Vincent @KerryVincentArt has died. Judge on the first series of @BakeOffAU @Channel9 and founder of the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show. Kerry's vigour & fierce determination was an inspiration for so many." Jackson Murphy, Emmy-winning film critic said mourned the demise of the eminent sugar artist and said, “#RIP Kerry Vincent, co-founder of Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show. She and the event were profiled on @foodnetwork programs over the years, including a special I just watched recently. 45-minute doc on her released a year ago began with her saying, "Nobody will ever do what I do."

The artistry of Vincent which inspired a generation to come in the baking industry is also being talked about by her fans. A user wrote, “I 1st found out who Kerry Vincent was when I was about 14 or 15yrs old. She was 1 of the reasons I became fascinated with cakes and how I started baking decorating cakes for a living. She will be missed.” Another post read, “Vale Kerry Vincent. I used to binge a lot of Food Network, and she was such a terrific watch. Fierce, honest (often brutally), but always fair. Very sad.”