Josie Clemens is one of the 18 contestants competing on Hell's Kitchen: Young Guns, and she stands out for being a vegan chef. Josie is bold, energetic, and confident, but being a vegan chef competing to become an Executive Chef at a steak house comes with challenges. So far, Josie's Hell's Kitchen journey has been a rollercoaster. Her teammates were concerned about her ability to taste the non-vegan food she prepares if she is a vegan. She also received a 2 in the signature dish challenge, and she recently was up for elimination after a failed night during dinner service. However, Josie remained confident and survived to see another day in Hell's Kitchen.
Season 20 of the Emmy-nominated series premiered on May 31 but delivered a twist. All the contestants competing on the show are under the age of 24, hence the name "Young Guns." However, the setup remains the same. The contestants are split into two teams: red team or blue team or male versus female. Season 10 winner Christina Wilson returns as the red team's sous chef. Meanwhile, on the blue team, season 7 runner-up Jason Santos returns as sous chef. The young guns must complete traditional challenges and cook signature dishes, all while feeling the wrath of Gordon Ramsey. The winner receives a $250k grand prize and becomes the new head chef at Gordon Ramsay Steak at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
Josie is 24 years old from Macomb, Michigan. The show was filmed in Las Vegas two years ago in 2019, before the pandemic, so she was 22 during the competition. She is one of the youngest contestants and was a private chef before joining Hell's Kitchen. Josie advocates for vegan cuisine and has a strong stance against using any animal products while cooking.
During the signature dish challenge in the first episode, Josie revealed that she struggled with her weight growing up and went vegan two and a half years prior for her mental health. The young chef takes to social media to educate her followers about the benefits of a vegan diet while sharing recipes. Her Instagram bio reads, "Gut health is the key to mental clarity." Because Josie is the show's first vegan chef, it sets her apart from her peers on the show. She is already making a name for herself and being recognized outside of Hell's Kitchen. She recently was featured in the UK version of Vegan Life and VegOut magazines. During the season premiere, the LA-based private chef also revealed she had an everlasting crush on Gordon Ramsey since she was 10 years old. According to her Instagram, it was one of her life goals to have him roast her. It turns out, dreams really do come true. See her post below:
Because she is vegan, Josie faces a whole new set of challenges. Regardless of the final outcome, Josie is paving the way for future plant-based chefs to come on the show and in the culinary world in general. No matter what challenges she faces, Josie is committed to taking the heat and staying in the kitchen.
Watch Hell's Kitchen on Mondays at 8pm EST on Fox.
Source: Instagram
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