With the 16th finalist yet to be decided by a video competition on YouTube, Le Cordon Bleu has announced 15 of the finalists who will compete for its coveted Julia Child Scholarship.
On 16 September, the final 16 aspiring pastry chefs and culinary entrepreneurs will compete for the prize worth over £40,000 to be presented by Le Cordon Bleu alumna Mary Berry.
The finalists to date have been announced as Dora Popova, Daniela Glattfelder, Laurence Hamdan, Bianca Tia Mesuria, Anna Jia, Katharina Bergerhoff, Katie-Poppy Inskip, Renuka Lassalle, Kirsty Massa, Elizabeth Melia, Melissa Oum, Michelle Hiller, Tiffany Hall, Andrea Banados and Stephanie Lobo.
The 16th finalist will be chosen by the public, with each of the 17 semi-finalists presenting a 1 minute YouTube video pitch. Viewers will have the opportunity to elect their preferred candidate by liking and commenting on a video with the candidate who receives the highest number of votes by 31 July continuing to the finals.
Commencing in January 2020, the scholarship will include 12 months study at Le Cordon Bleu London on the Diplome de Patisserie or Diploma in Culinary Management; advice and mentoring from the school’s alumni including Luiz Hara, Georgia Green, Dhruv Mittal and Evelina Ogorzalek; work experience at world-renowned 5-star hotel The Savoy; a 1 year membership to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB); and luxury central London accommodation for the duration of the scholarship courtesy of Londonist. Prizes will also be awarded by the Business Show, Churchill and Zwilling.
For further information and to participate in voting, please click here.
