Christina Fitzgerald, 29 (St. Louis), grew up in a big family with six brothers, so she developed a competitive spirit and an ability to stand out at an early age. Encouraged by her late brother to follow her passion and enroll in culinary school, Christina went on to graduate at the top of her class and win several cooking competitions with her internationally inspired cuisine. Now married, with a 6-year-old daughter, she still loves to travel and bring new flavors home to her kitchen.