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Who Is Kardea Brown? Meet New ‘Kids Baking Championship’ Host Replacing Valerie Bertinelli
Kardea Brown, a Southern cook born in Charleston, South Carolina, made a name for herself on the Food Network as host of the show Delicious Miss Brown.
The celebrity chef will be adding more to her plate when she joins Duff Goldman as cohost on Kids Baking Championship, replacing Valerie Bertinelli, who revealed in January 2024 that she would not be returning to the show.
Kardea Brown Will Be the New Host of ‘Kids Baking Championship’
On October 2, 2024, it was announced that Kardea signed a new deal with Food Network. The TV personality will continue in her role as judge on Spring Baking Championship and will also cohost Kids Baking Championship.
“Having the chance to share my love of food has been a dream come true and I am so thrilled to continue this journey with Food Network,” Kardea said in a statement. “I look forward to celebrating the holidays with fans and celebrating these extra special and talented bakers, big and small, and all their incredible creations.”
Duff, who cohosted Kids Baking Championship with Valerie since season 1 in 2015, will continue to cohost alongside Kardea, who previously judged Kids Baking Championship and Spring Baking Championship and cohosted seasonal specials like 2023’s Kids Baking Championship Thanksgiving special.
When Does Kardea Brown’s 1st Full Season as ‘Kids Baking Championship’ Cohost Premiere?
Kardea and Duff’s first full season as cohosts is expected to premiere in early 2025.
How Did Kardea Brown Get a Job on the Food Network?
In an April 2023 Instagram post — alongside a throwback photo of herself at the front desk of the Food Network office in 2015 — Kardea explained how she went from social worker to TV star.
“This was my first pitch meeting at @foodnetwork 8 years ago! I remember that day distinctly,” she began in the caption. “I was so nervous but excited at the same time. This was my big break….I just knew I would leave that meeting with my very own cooking show.”
“Admittedly, I was little naive…I didn’t quite realize how the ‘entertainment biz’ worked,” she continued. “You just don’t show up as a social worker and get a green light for your very own cooking show that same day [grinning face with sweat emoji]. I walked away from the meeting without a show but what I did gain was motivation…. I didn’t take no for an answer…. I took it at as ‘no…not right now.'”
Despite not initially getting a job, Kardea went back to her job at nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters and put in her resignation.
“I was and still am a FIRM believer in divine timing. I just knew in my heart that it was going to happen but when it was SUPPOSED to happen. March 16, 2015 wasn’t the day for me,” she said. “But God kept his promise and on November 3, 2018 I was back home in Charleston filming a pilot. And on July 28, 2019 Delicious Miss Brown season 1 premiered!”
She told her followers, “This is what never giving up looks like. I could’ve walked away from that meeting 8 years ago and never looked back. I can’t imagine where I would be right now had I given up that day. Cousins, I hope that my story inspires at least one person today. That thing you’ve been praying about is coming….just keep at it! All it takes is one opportunity to change your life forever.”
How Many Cookbooks Has Kardea Brown Published?
Kardea first cookbook, The Way Home, was published in October 2022.
