The “Battle of the States” has a champion. After a dramatic season featuring chefs from across the country, Ellie Parker was named the winner of Hell’s Kitchen Season 24. The 25-year-old sous-chef from Las Vegas triumphed over finalist Jada Vidal in the finale that aired on January 22, 2026. For her victory, Parker earns the grand prize of $250,000 and the prestigious position of Head Chef at the Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant located inside the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut.
Season 24 Finale Recap and Winner Announcement
The season reached its peak as Ellie Parker and Jada Vidal, the two remaining chefs, led their final dinner services. The live results from the finale show both chefs faced difficulties during the intense service, with issues reported at the fish and garnish stations for their teams. After the final meals were served and diner comment cards were reviewed, Chef Gordon Ramsay made his decision. With both finalists standing before the iconic Hell’s Kitchen doors, the one that opened was for Ellie Parker.
Chef Ramsay declared Parker the winner of Season 24, telling her that the state of Nevada should be very proud of its representative. To runner-up Jada Vidal, a 22-year-old sous-chef from Tampa, Florida, Ramsay offered encouraging words, noting her youth and the bright future ahead of her. Parker’s path to the finale was notable. Initially considered an underdog, she had to “cook for her life” at one point after scoring low in challenges. She then began a strong upward trajectory, becoming one of the first chefs to earn a black jacket and eventually securing her spot in the final two by a narrow margin of two points.
“Cooking has always been my passion, but now I get the chance to showcase my skills on a national stage. Representing Las Vegas, Nevada and the incredible team at Main St. Provisions makes this journey even more special,” Ellie Parker said ahead of the season’s premiere.
Winner Ellie Parker’s Background and Career
Ellie Parker’s culinary story is one of dedication that began at a young age. Originally from Racine, Wisconsin, she moved to Las Vegas when she was seven years old. Her passion for cooking was sparked by watching the Food Network. At just 12 years old, she applied to the culinary program at the Northwest Career and Technical Academy, beginning her formal training at 13. She graduated top of her class in 2017 with three degrees: one in Culinary Arts and another in Baking and Pastry.
Parker started her professional career as a line cook at The Venetian Las Vegas when she was 17. She worked her way through several renowned Las Vegas restaurants, including Culinary Dropout and MB Steak, progressing from line cook to sous chef at establishments like Brera Osteria. For the past three years, she has been part of the team at Main St. Provisions in downtown Las Vegas, rising from a line cook to the restaurant’s executive chef in 2025. According to her restaurant profile, her passion lies in cooking steakhouse and New American fare with a strong focus on detail and consistency.
In a remarkable coincidence of timing, this week also saw Parker named a semifinalist for a prestigious James Beard Award in the “Emerging Chef” category. Parker shared her excitement about this honor on social media, stating, “Ever since I was a little girl discovering my love for culinary arts, I have only wanted one thing, a James Beard Award… this is the cherry on top”.
Hell’s Kitchen Season 24 Format and Key Contestants
The twenty-fourth season of Hell’s Kitchen, subtitled “Battle of the States,” featured a unique format. The season began with 20 chefs competing, each one representing a different U.S. state. The competition premiered on Fox on September 25, 2025, and concluded with the finale on January 22, 2026. As with recent seasons, all episodes were filmed at the actual Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is also where the winner’s new job is located.
The season was marked by a historic moment: for the first time in the show’s history, all chefs who earned the coveted black jackets were women. The final five contestants were all female. The journey to the finale saw the elimination of many talented chefs. The third-place finisher was Cydni Stickney, a 26-year-old executive sous-chef from Raleigh, North Carolina. The fourth-place chef was Lisa Rivera, a 28-year-old chef instructor from Orange County, California.
Other notable contestants included fifth-place Anaiya Marie from Delaware, sixth-place Anthony Leonard from Iowa, and seventh-place Henry Johnson from Texas. One contestant, Chase Cardoza from Montana, voluntarily left the competition after a Breakfast Service Challenge. The season also set a record matching Season 10 for the fewest dinner service wins by the blue team, with only one victory.
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Prize Details and The Path Forward for the Winner
The grand prize for winning Hell’s Kitchen Season 24 remains one of the most coveted in culinary reality television. Ellie Parker received a $250,000 cash prize and was offered the Head Chef position at the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant located within the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut. This restaurant is part of Chef Gordon Ramsay’s growing empire of Hell’s Kitchen locations worldwide and serves as the permanent set for the television show.
This prize provides a life-changing career opportunity, placing the winner at the helm of a high-profile restaurant in a major resort and casino. For Parker, this builds upon her recent achievement of becoming the executive chef at Main St. Provisions in Las Vegas. Her new role will involve leading a large kitchen team, managing service for a high-volume restaurant, and upholding the standards of the Hell’s Kitchen brand. The victory and the James Beard Award semifinalist recognition together mark a significant professional milestone for the young chef, potentially setting the stage for a major national career.
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