Scripps Networks Interactive Unveils Food Hero Winners

SINGAPORE: Scripps Networks Interactive has revealed Sarah Benjamin and Michele Lean as the winners of Food Hero, the company's inaugural search for on-air talent in Asia.

Singapore's Benjamin and Malaysia's Lean have become the new faces of Asian Food Channel and Food Network, respectively. The pair defeated nearly 300 contestants. Benjamin will make her television debut as the host of Must Try: Asia, a new Scripps Networks original, at the end of the year. Lean is slated to present the Asian version of Food Wars in early 2015.

"Food Hero is our first integrated initiative to run online and on-air for Asian Food Channel and Food Network, and it has received a very positive response from our viewers and fans across Asia," said CheeK, the head of creative content and marketing for the Asia Pacific at Scripps Networks Interactive. "Growing our pool of on-air personalities in Asia is a key part of Scripps Networks' strategy to produce more local original content as we continue to expand our footprint in the region. We have found two extremely talented individuals with whom we work and look forward to making their dreams of becoming on-air personalities come true."

Benjamin noted: "Winning Food Hero feels like a dream come true! I have always loved traveling and tasting different types of cuisines from around the world. It is an amazing feeling to think that I can now do this as a profession. I cannot wait to start my journey and look forward to sharing my experiences with all of the Asian Food Channel viewers."

Lean added: "I've always been a big fan of Asian Food Channel and Food Network, and I love watching them to get inspiration when I'm cooking at home with my family. At first, I wasn't sure what it meant to be a Food Hero or if I had it in me, but I am so glad that I took a leap of faith and submitted my video. It has always been my dream to host a food and travel program on either of these networks and I feel so fortunate that I now have the chance to do so for Food Network! I would like to thank Scripps Networks for giving me this incredibly exciting opportunity, and I'm really looking forward to our journeys to come."

The second edition of Food Hero is scheduled to take place next year.