Candice Kumai, former host of Lifetime’s Cook Yourself Thin and TLC’s Homemade Simple, had traveled across Asia, New York City, and Los Angeles as a fashion model by the age of fifteen. At twenty-two, she received her professional culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles and cooked in several California-based restaurants. Candice was the youngest chef to compete on Bravo’s inaugural season of Top Chef at age twenty-three. As a major influencer by the age of thirty, Candice wrote and developed recipes for more than half a dozen cookbooks, including the New York Times #1 bestseller Cook Yourself Thin, Skinny Bitch Cookbook, Recipe Rehab, and Novak Djokovic’s Serve to Win. Her cookbooks include Pretty Delicious, Cook Yourself Sexy, and Clean Green Drinks. Candice is featured in and contributes to dozens of food, health, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle shows and publications.
 
In 2012 she began hosting workshops in New York City at the James Beard Foundation. Additionally, Candice has been an ambassador to the White House AAPI Alliance and The Resolution Project at Harvard Club of New York City. Candice has spoken at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, University of San Diego, The New York Times Travel Show, and the NBA. Candice is the chef ambassador to 1,000 Days (founded by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton). She volunteers her time with Whole Foods, The Chef’s Garden, and Health Corps. She is a fellowship member of the UN Foundation.
 
Candice is currently a regular judge on Food Network’s Iron Chef America, a health journalist, and food editor-at-large at Shape and Men’s Fitness magazines.