The final stretch of Hell’s Kitchen Season 24 delivered a historic and intense two-hour event, where an unprecedented all-female final five was whittled down to a trio of powerhouse chefs. In episodes that aired back-to-back on January 8, 2026, chefs faced challenges testing their creativity, adaptability, and leadership under the immense pressure of Chef Gordon Ramsay’s kitchen. The night resulted in the emotional departures of two strong competitors, Anaiya and Lisa, leaving Cydni, Ellie, and Jada to battle for the title and the head chef position in the upcoming finale.
A Social Media Showdown Kicks Off the Final Five
Episode 13, titled “Queens of the Kitchen,” began with a celebration of a series milestone: for the first time, all five chefs wearing the coveted black jackets were women—Anaiya, Cydni, Ellie, Jada, and Lisa. The celebration was brief, as Chef Ramsay immediately presented a challenge tailored for the digital age. The chefs had 40 minutes to create a dish that was not only delicious but also visually stunning for social media.
The dishes were photographed and posted to Ramsay’s social media accounts, where his followers voted. Their scores were combined with points from Ramsay and guest judge Ken Oringer, an accomplished chef and restaurateur. Lisa dominated, winning both the judges’ favor and the popular vote with her crispy-skin black cod. She earned a reward of a racing experience with a professional team and lunch at the Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant at Foxwoods, choosing Ellie to join her. The remaining chefs—Anaiya, Jada, and Cydni—faced the punishment of preparing 100 pounds of hand-cut French fries for the night’s dinner service.
Dinner Service Tensions Lead to a Difficult Elimination
The dinner service featured a VIP guest, WWE Champion Big E. While the service had strong moments, it was not without significant errors. Cydni struggled early on the fish station, momentarily forgetting a scallop on a plate. However, Anaiya faced more critical mistakes, sending up raw lamb chops and later scorching a New York strip for the VIP table.
At the nomination ceremony, Ramsay tasked the chefs with choosing two of their own for elimination. A tense debate erupted, primarily between Lisa and Jada, who were asked to lead the decision as the night’s strongest performers. The process was messy, with the group struggling to reach a consensus. Ultimately, they nominated Cydni and Anaiya. Ramsay sent Anaiya home, marking the end of her journey.
“Delaware might be known as the First State, but unfortunately, after tonight’s service, Anaiya will be known as fifth place,” said Chef Gordon Ramsay.
A Brutal Ingredient Swap Tests Adaptability
The competition continued immediately in Episode 14, “Who’s the Boss,” with the remaining four chefs: Cydni, Ellie, Jada, and Lisa. Their first challenge was a test of adaptability. The chefs were given 10 minutes and $25 to shop for ingredients at a market, believing they were selecting items for their own dish. Upon returning, Ramsay delivered a cruel twist: they had shopped for each other. The ingredients were forcibly swapped.
- Ellie had to cook with Lisa’s ingredients.
- Lisa received the basket Jada selected.
- Jada was stuck with Cydni’s groceries.
- Cydni had to figure out what to make with Ellie’s items.
With just 45 minutes to create a new dish, the pressure was immense. Cydni struggled with a t-bone cut she was unfamiliar with, while others had to quickly pivot their plans. Guest judge Stephanie Izard, a celebrated chef and restaurateur, joined Ramsay for a tasting where chefs battled for a “throne”—the last chef sitting on it after all tastings would win. Ellie triumphed with an elevated shrimp and grits dish, winning a $1,000 kitchen shopping spree and choosing Cydni to join her for a seafood dinner, leaving Lisa and Jada to scrub greasy sheet pans.
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The Ultimate Leadership Test: Running the Pass Under Sabotage
The final dinner service of the night was designed to test who was ready to be a head chef. Each of the four finalists took a turn running the pass—the command station where orders are coordinated and dishes are inspected before going to guests. Chef Ramsay and his team actively worked to sabotage their efforts, changing ingredients and tickets to see if the chefs in charge would notice.
Jada started strong, perfectly spotting all three tests Ramsay threw her way, including swapped pasta and an incorrect purée. Cydni missed her first test—a salmon replaced with trout—but caught the next two. Lisa’s performance was mixed; she caught a swapped lobster tail but missed subsequent sabotages involving swapped vegetables and steak cuts. Ellie also performed well, catching mistakes like scallops replaced with mushrooms.
Lisa’s Surprising Exit and the Final Three Are Set
After the service, Ramsay deliberated on the chefs’ overall performance, leadership, and growth throughout the season. He called forward Cydni, Ellie, Jada, and Lisa for the final elimination of the night. He first named Cydni as advancing to the final three, praising her significant improvement. Next, he called Jada. The last spot came down to Ellie and Lisa. In a moment that visibly shocked Lisa, Ramsay gave the final finalist position to Ellie.
“Your command in the kitchen tonight didn’t rise to the level of the other three behind you,” Ramsay told Lisa as he eliminated her.
This decision solidified the final three competitors of Hell’s Kitchen Season 24: Battle of the States. Cydni from North Carolina, Ellie from Nevada, and Jada from Florida will now move forward to the last challenges before the season finale. The winner will become the head chef at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant and receive a $250,000 prize. Fans can stream all episodes of Hell’s Kitchen Season 24 on Fox and associated platforms.
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