Ooltewah eighth-grader takes home top prize on Food Network's 'Chopped Jr.'

Kyla Curry THUMBNAIL ONLY
Kyla Curry THUMBNAIL ONLY

An Ooltewah eighth grader who participated in Food Network's cooking reality show "Chopped Jr." has snagged the grand prize.

Kyla Curry, 13, won $10,000 Tuesday after competing against three other chefs.

"Chopped Jr." is a spinoff of "Chopped," a cooking competition for adults.

In each standalone episode of "Chopped Jr.," the young cooks prepare an appetizer, entree and dessert from a basket of mandatory ingredients. A contestant is eliminated after each course until a winner is determined. The show's slogan: "If your dish doesn't cut it, you will be chopped." Tuesday's episode was themed "Holiday Hoopla."

After the win, Kyla's mom, Ivy Curry, called her daughter's win a "magnificent achievement" and credited her daughter's ability to focus, which viewers saw during the show.

"She is a people person, but when there is a task at hand, she is very focused."

Ahead of Tuesday's episode, Kyla told the Times Free Press she learned to cook from her father and her mother.

photo Kyla Curry with one of her baked creations. / Photo provided by Kyla Curry's family

"My signature dish is shrimp and grits," she said. "I like to cook soul food, food I've grown up around."

Hamilton County Schools officials also celebrated the news, tweeting their congratulations to Curry.

"Nothing but greatness in @hamcoschools!" the post reads.

Curry's father, Kenardo, said in a Facebook post that Kyla always wanted to be on a cooking show.

"Now it has come to fruition Dreams do come true," the post states.

And what will Kyla do with the money?

Curry said her daughter is excited to do a little shopping in the coming weeks with some of her winnings, but "most of it will go into a trust or savings account for her education."

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