Riauna Clarke

My signature dish would have to be jerk fried chicken. I love taking the bold, smoky, spicy flavors of jerk seasoning and turning them into something comforting and craveable. Whether it’s on a sandwich, paired with unique sauces, or reimagined in different ways, I’m always finding new ways to make it my own. It represents my cooking style perfectly — big flavor, creativity, and a little twist that makes people remember it.

My culinary inspiration is Tiffany Derry. Watching a Black woman from Texas achieve everything she has in the culinary world is incredibly inspiring to me. Seeing her build a successful career while staying true to who she is shows me what’s possible. I admire the way she represents excellence, creativity, and leadership in an industry where representation matters. Her journey reminds me that there’s space to dream big, create my own lane, and build something meaningful in food.

If I won the $25,000, I would use it as an investment in building my future. I’d put it toward growing my food content and creating higher-quality videos that reach more people, expanding my private chef business, and taking steps toward my ultimate goal of owning my own restaurant. Food has always been bigger than cooking for me — I want to build a brand and create experiences that connect with people. This opportunity would help me turn what I’m already building into somethin