Where are 'Hell's Kitchen' Season 20 contestants now? Chefs continue to flourish after end of Gordon Ramsay's cooking show
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ever since it first premiered in 2005, Gordon Ramsay's 'Hell's Kitchen' has garnered critical acclaim and universal praise from audiences.
The show follows the trials and tribulations of a group of competing chefs as they make their way through the show's culinary challenges, trying their best to set their cuisine apart at every step.
The show adheres to a progressive elimination format, where contestants vie against each other until a single winner emerges, securing the chance to receive a prestigious job offer.
The 20th season of 'Hell's Kitchen' premiered on May 31, 2021, and the prize for the season's winner was the position of Head Chef at the Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
'Hell's Kitchen' Season 20 contestants: Where are they now?
Since an interval of time has elapsed since season 20 came to an end, it is fair to wonder where the contestants of that season are now and what they have been up to.
Megan Gill
Megan ended up as the first runner-up on the show and gave Trenton a run for his money in competing for the first position. She presently works as an ambassador for Chef Works, a clothing brand with businesses set up across a hundred countries. Additionally, she holds the position of Executive Chef at Hotel Marcel, a restaurant located in New Haven.
Kiya Willhelm
Kiya was the second runner-up on the show and was eliminated after she scored the lowest with her menu in the series finale. Following the end of the show, she went on to become a part-time bartender and chef at Lasbaugh's West.
Trenton Garvey
Trenton triumphed as the winner of season 20, skillfully navigating a series of culinary challenges presented to him throughout the show.
As a testament to his victory, he was given a position to work at the Gordon Ramsay Steak restaurant. He then moved on to work as the Executive Chef at The Bedford by Martha Stewart, located in Paris in November 2022. That same year he tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend Macee Jarvis.
Brynn Gibson
Brynn's cooking was praised by Gordon Ramsay himself and she almost made it to the final episode of the show. She has now turned into a food vlogger and has a significant online presence. Brynn lives in Rhode Island and has a pet dog who frequently features on her social media posts.
Steven Glenn
Steven finished in 5th place on the show after he was eliminated during the 13th episode of season 20. He impressed Gordon Ramsay to such a degree that the latter gave him his own jacket as a souvenir. He currently works as a private chef catering to high-profile clients.
Emily Hersh
Emily too was eliminated from the show along with Antonio following the Black Jackets challenge. The steak dish which she had prepared was supposedly undercooked and failed to impress the judges.
Her Instagram bio describes her as a 'plant-forward chef sharing recipes with a side of intuitive eating, self-love & vulnerability.'
Sam Garman
Sam worked as an executive chef before joining the show. He managed to make his way through eleven episodes of the show before his journey was cut short as he struggled with the chicken dish that he had prepared.
Sam isn't very active online and has been working as a general manager for a catering enterprise called Sedexo since leaving the show. Sam Garman hails from Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.
Josie Clemens
Josie is noteworthy for being the first vegan chef on the show. She managed to make it to the show's eighth service. After her departure from the show, she continued to work as a chef.
Antonio Ruiz
Antonio made it to the 12th episode of the show but was subsequently eliminated due to his dish of enchiladas verdes not meeting expectations during the Black Jackets challenge.
Since leaving the show, Antonio has been working as a chef at Dutchman Family Winery in Texas. It could be said from his social media account that he is still doing what he loves doing.
Victoria Sonora
Victoria's stay on the show lasted until the ninth episode. Her performance throughout this period has been commendable. Following her departure from the show, she joined Charlestowne Hotels in the capacity of a sous chef.
Currently, she works as a Production Supervisor for Azoria Foods. Although she isn't active across social media, it is fair to say that she must be shining in all her pursuits. Victoria was a junior sous chef from Longmont, Colorado.
Morgana Vesey
Morgana was eliminated from the show due to her mishap at the kitchen's fish station, which was attributed to her lack of confidence at that time. Following her departure from the show, Morgana, in collaboration with other partners, launched her bar named '86'd.' She currently works at a place called Water Street Cafe.
Keanu Hogan
Keanu was a 23-year-old private chef from Maryland when she first appeared on the show. Unfortunately, she was eliminated after the 'Cook For Your Life Challenge' in episode 8. Gordon Ramsay personally commended her performance on the show.
Following her exit from the show, she returned to work for Three Perfect Bites, her catering service enterprise.
Alex Lenik
Alex was eliminated relatively early in the show, in the fourth episode, when neither of the two competing teams managed to leave a lasting impression on the judges.
Leaving the show behind, Alex returned to Chicago to work as a chef and hasn't been very active on his Instagram handle ever since.
Kevin Argueta
Upon his elimination, Kevin expressed in a heartfelt statement that he had given his all to make a comeback on the show but struggled to find the inner strength, leading to disappointment in himself and his overall experience.
The undercooked eggs which he presented to the judges proved to be the reason behind his elimination. After the show, Kevin started working as an Executive Chef at Krispy Rice. Kevin is a line cook from Los Angeles.
Payton Cooper
After being eliminated from the show due to his poor performance, Payton briefly worked at Middle Fork and The Kentucky Cattle before transitioning into a personal chef. A significant milestone in his culinary journey occurred when he joined Par 6 Social as an executive chef in June 2023.
Jayaun Smith
Jayaun is doing fairly well for himself after being eliminated from the show after his second service. He is the co-owner of two restaurants with Steven Blakley as his partner. They also have ownership stakes in various other businesses, including a food truck named 'The What Truck.' Notably, Jayaun recently established a non-profit organization named 'A Kid & A Kitchen.'
Matthew Francis Johnson
After his elimination following the first service on the show, Matthew is presently employed as an R&D chef and Content Manager at Freshly.
Additionally, he has contributed as a creative writer for 'Prax Book Series' and 'Scraps.' He hosts a podcast called 'Dinner Views,' and he has also had short-term roles as a director for various food and beverage establishments.
Ava Harren
Ava was eliminated during the show's second episode after she failed to prove her prowess with the alcohol challenge. Before appearing on the show, Ava's experience included working as a meal preparation chef.
Following her elimination, Ava returned to the helm of her meal preparation company Avaflava.
