Meet the Bakers Competing on Next Baking Master: Paris

The bakers have arrived in the magical city of Paris for an unprecedented culinary competition.

Brooke started baking when her first child was born, and that hobby soon turned into a passion and profession. Self-taught and restaurant-trained, she became a skilled pastry chef while living in Atlanta. Eventually Brooke moved to rural Alabama where she and her husband joined his family business as dairy farmers. With the business and family life taking over, pastry took a backseat for a time – but Brooke jumped back in full force and is ready to live and breathe pastry in Paris.

Cedrick fell in love with the world of candy, desserts, pastry and Willy Wonka when he was five years old. By the time he was in high school he knew he would be a professional pastry chef and went on to study at Le Cordon Bleu. He is inspired by the joy his desserts bring to everyone he serves, from celebrities to patrons of high-end dining restaurants. He comes from a close family with four siblings who have always supported his dreams, and he is determined to make them proud in Paris.

DeAndra Bailey’s love of pastry comes from her late grandmother, who was bursting with pride when DeAndra became a professional pastry chef in high-end restaurants. One-of-a-kind in and out of the kitchen, she always puts her own spin on things. She loves tropical flavors and prefers tea and biscuits over a sweet cookie or cupcake. She has always been a cheerleader for others – but this is her time: DeAndra has big dreams of bringing the win from Paris to Baltimore in honor of her grandmother.

Jennalyn is a classically trained pastry chef who has worked in fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City, where she met her husband who is also a chef. She took a break to become a stay-at-home mom to her two children, but her skills are just as sharp as they’ve ever been. She wants to prove there is room in life for all of her identities: wonderful wife, great mother and killer pastry chef.

Jeremy has held many pastry jobs and this isn’t his first time in Paris – he actually taught a class in the City of Lights a few years ago. Growing up on a farm in California, he would escape his childhood challenges by baking with his aunt and it turned into his passion. Jeremy attended culinary school where he became a well-rounded chef who is adaptable to any request, including gluten free and vegan baking. With his quick wit, flair and creativity, he may have just what it takes to win the competition.

Baking is in Joe’s blood - he grew up in the bakery his parents opened 45 years ago after moving from Sicily to the United States. In high school he had no interest in joining the business, but after a sports injury he began shadowing his pastry chef father and fell in love with the craft. Joe went on to attend the Culinary Institute of America and now proudly runs the family bakery. Paris holds a special place in this dad-of-two’s heart – it’s where he and his pastry chef wife honeymooned.

At 23, Keely may be the youngest in the competition – but do not underestimate her. She knows pastry and has the experience, education and talent to back it up. Raised by a single dad with her brother, she’s also a natural born leader who can hold her own in any group. After culinary school, Keely worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and started her own baking business. She prides herself on innovation and creativity, challenging traditional pastries and pushing the envelope with her unique creations.

Born and raised in California, Lindsay’s personality is sunny, bubbly and a little silly. Her pastry philosophy is to push the envelope and create things that are a bit avant-garde and unexpected. Her ideas are offbeat and she isn’t afraid of risk in her creations, like her signature pretzel pie crust and blueberry goat cheese pop tart. She is currently a pastry instructor and dreams of pursuing her own pie business one day. She is competing in honor of her late mother, who loved Paris.

Paige always loved baking, but she studied fashion first before pastry took over her life. She attended culinary school and has ten years of experience working in high-end bakeries and Michelin-starred restaurants around the United States and Europe. She specializes in elevating nostalgic desserts and is a whiz at working with chocolate. She took a hiatus from pastry and knows Paris is just the place to reignite her passion and start her next chapter.