4 things to know about the candidate

The life of Barbecue ShowdownChef Melissa Pappas might surprise viewers of Netflix’s new cooking show.

Barbecue Showdown recently released all eight episodes of Season 3 on July 4, pitting nine chefs against each other for a $50,000 prize.

One of the most captivating and talented cast members is Melissa Pappas, a food content creator from Orlando, Florida.

( Barbecue Showdown Season 3 Full Cast: Contestants & Judges in 2024 Episodes (Photos) )

Who is Melissa Pappas? Biography Details

Melissa Pappas is a self-taught chef

Self-taught chef Melissa Pappas has turned her passion for cooking into a thriving online presence.

In 2020, Pappas began sharing photos of her homemade meals on social media, launching “Sweet Melissa Cooks” (Linktree).

As video content grew in popularity, she began recording and editing recipe tutorials herself, according to ClickOrlando.com.

Since then, Pappas has focused on mastering barbecue, experimenting with smokers, grills and open fires to perfect dishes like pulled pork, turkey and ribs:

“I’ve even had the opportunity to learn from some of Orlando’s greatest culinary masters through my involvement with many local restaurants, which has been a true honor. These dedicated chefs are some of my greatest inspirations.”

His journey from hobbyist to content creator highlights his dedication to the culinary arts and makes his journey truly unique on Barbecue showdown.

Melissa was a teacher in Florida

Before his arrival on Barbecue ShowdownMelissa Pappas was an award-winning teacher in Florida.

She holds a master’s degree from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor’s degree from the University of West Florida with a focus on special education.

Pappas spent nearly seven years teaching special education in the Orange County public school system, focusing on children with severe autism and a variety of behavioral and educational needs.

According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, she won the 2020 OCPS Teacher of the Year and the prestigious Mary J. Brogan Award for Teaching Excellence from the Florida Department of Education.

In 2020, Pappas was recognized as a guest of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during his State of the State address.

Melissa loves singing on social media

Fans of Melissa Pappas, or Sweet Melissa, will know that the influencer occasionally posts videos of herself singing in her kitchen.

Titled “Song Sunday,” Pappas has posted a number of different music videos, including a touching performance (via Instagram) of Lee Ann Womack on Father’s Day:

“My dad has dedicated this song to me since it came out when I was a kid, so it seemed only fitting that I dedicate it to him for Song Sunday today, Father’s Day. I love you so much, you know, Dad.”

To kick off her birthday week, Pappas sang Mariah Carey’s “Lead the Way” into her spatula for all of her Instagram followers to watch:

“Spatula drop – This seemed quite fitting to kick off birthday week with my (Queen) Mariah.”

Melissa Pappas created parody videos

Originally posted on December 20, 2022 on YouTube, Melissa Pappas made a parody music video of Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” titled “Look What You Made Me Poo.”

Although this is currently her only parody, Pappas notes in the video description that it is the first in a long series of “Sweet Melissa Cooks: The Parodies” and has been four years in the making.

Check out the full parody video here:

How to Follow Melissa Pappas Online

Melissa Pappas’ social media profiles can be found on Facebook (Sweet Melissa), Instagram (@sweetmelissacooks), and YouTube (@SweetMelissaCooks).

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Barbecue Showdown Season 3 is now available to stream on Netflix.

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