Summary
- Heather West from Hell's Kitchen season 2 is now advocating for postpartum depression awareness on social media.
- Despite winning $250,000, Heather was offered a senior chef position in Las Vegas instead of an executive chef position.
- After her time on the show, Heather moved multiple times for chef positions and is now happily married with two sons in Nashville.
Hell’s Kitchen season 2 winner Heather West was a fan favorite, and it's time to catch up with her post-show. It was the first season of one of the best reality TV shows to divide the contestants by gender, the male team versus the female team, and this division has now become the show’s signature starting point. Though the season kicked off in a new way, the grand prize was the same as always. The winner would receive $250,000 and a chef position at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant. Although Gordon Ramsay sometimes goes too far, Hell's Kitchen remains popular.
The cast of Hell's Kitchen season 2 featured eleven chefs, each from a unique background. Giacomo, the pizza chef and family restauranteur; Garrett, who learned to cook in prison; Larry, the fishmonger; and Tom, the former stockbroker. Hell's Kitchen runner-up Virginia Dalbeck went on to successfully own and operate multiple restaurants. Sara Horowitz was Justin Bieber’s tour chef before getting arrested for assaulting her partner in 2013. Keith Greene had a steady chef’s career before his tragic accidental drowning in 2012. Ten months after Hell's Kitchen season 2 aired, contestant Rachel Brown, who was eliminated during episode five, tragically took her own life.
Heather West Worked At Terra Rossa In Las Vegas
As the season unfolded, Heather was a clear leader. She had confidence and consistency and was also a friendly person. Heather stood out for all the right reasons. After her Hell's Kitchen win, Heather didn’t receive an executive chef position. Instead, she was offered a senior chef position at Terra Rossa at the Red Rock Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, plus a $250k salary.
A year after her contract at Terra Rossa ended, Heather moved from Washington to North Carolina to California. She was the head chef at Monterey's, Jellyfish Restaurant, and Broadway Grill. Eventually, Heather moved back to her home in Port Jefferson, New York, where she met her future husband. Now married and the mother to two sons and living in Nashville, Heather has bravely shared her postpartum depression struggles on social media.
Heather Advocates for Postpartum Depression After Hell's Kitchen
Heather has spent her time on social media in the last several years as a fierce advocate for awareness of postpartum depression. Alongside having given birth to her three children, Heather has suffered three miscarriages and a stillbirth in the last decade. The loss and tragedy have taken a toll on Heather and her family. Nonetheless, it has helped her find her voice and advocate for those suffering by being transparent with her emotions on social media.
When Heather returned to reality TV as the red team’s sous chef during Hell's Kitchen season 6, it seemed like Heather had put reality TV behind her. Even though Heather loves being a chef, her most important role now is being a mother. While Hell's Kitchen is in the rearview mirror for Heather, she hasn't forgotten her time on the show.
Hell's Kitchen is available to stream on Hulu.
Source: Heather West/Instagram
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Hell's Kitchen
- Release Date:
- 2005-05-30
- Cast:
- Gordon Ramsay, Jason Thompson, Roger Craig Smith
- Genres:
- Competition, Cooking, Reality
- Rating:
- TV-14
- Seasons:
- 21
- Network:
- FOX
- Franchise(s):
- Gordon Ramsay
- Directors:
- Mark W. Roden, Sharon Trojan Hollinger
- Showrunner:
- Kenny Rosen
