Talk about a heated kitchen! The August 27th episode of ‘Top Chef VIP 4′ certainly cranked up the drama. It was one of the most talked-about and tense nights this season. Young influencer Nicole Curiel found herself packing her bags, but her exit wasn’t even the biggest story. That same evening, things completely boiled over between Cristina Porta and CurvyZelma.
These two have a history, you see. CurvyZelma once called their differences a “culture clash.” Cristina, a journalist from Spain, often raised her voice. Curvy just couldn’t stand the shouting and scolding. Still, they had managed to get past it after working together on a team challenge, putting their past arguments behind them.
Nicole herself had some strong words for them. She felt they were selfish to fight while she was nominated for elimination, needing support instead. Interestingly, Nicole also admitted her exit wasn’t entirely a shock. She hinted that a bit of self-sabotage played a part. She told everyone she just wasn’t comfortable in the reality show anymore and actually wanted to leave.
Before Nicole’s name was called, MatÃas Ochoa and Celinee Santos also stood nervously, waiting for the judges’ decision. Dominican chef Inés Páez expressed some wise words. She said, “You have reached a strong stage of the competition and now the details are what make the difference.” Moments later, Nicole Curiel was named as the one going home.
As the news sank in, Nicole’s friend, CurvyZelma, burst into tears. It was a truly distraught moment for her. But not everyone bought the emotional display. Fellow contestant Salvador Zerboni quickly chimed in, saying those tears were pure hypocrisy. He even claimed they just wanted to get Nicole out of the way. “I am very annoyed,” the actor declared, making his feelings perfectly clear.
Back on the main set, the other competitors gathered around. They shared hugs and gave an emotional goodbye to the season’s youngest contestant. Nicole Curiel, ever graceful, thanked everyone for their friendship. She then shared a lovely thought: “This little chick has to fly.”
The Sizzling Showdown: CurvyZelma and Cristina Porta
But Nicole’s exit wasn’t the only fire in the kitchen that night. The tension between CurvyZelma and Cristina Porta reached its breaking point. It felt like the drama meter just exploded! Cristina started it, taunting the Mexican influencer. She dared CurvyZelma to “show her true face.” This sparked a major confrontation, one that honestly could have ended much, much worse.
Luckily, Lorena Herrera stepped in. She pulled CurvyZelma aside and then turned to the other competitors. Lorena loudly told them they couldn’t stand having “such a good and kind-hearted person” on the show. All the while, Cristina just stood there, making fun of the situation with fake crying faces.
Cristina really pushed it further. She even called CurvyZelma “chunga,” a word in Spain used for someone who looks messy or has a bad appearance. Ouch.
Lorena didn’t let up. She kept defending Curvy, shouting, “They always attack you, and I’m totally fed up with them!” Through all this, “Paco” Pizaña just watched everything unfold, completely silent.
With Nicole Curiel now gone, she marks the eleventh contestant eliminated from ‘Top Chef VIP.’ That leaves just nine talented chefs in the kitchen. They’re all battling it out, not just to earn the title of “culinary king,” but also to take home a hefty $200,000 prize.
Who’s Out: The Elimination Roll Call
- Sergio Goyri
- Christopher Vélez
- Karina
- Elvis Crespo (abandoned)
- Sergio Sendel
- Valeria Cuevas
- Jerry Bazúa
- Hector Sandarti
- Yani Prado (abandoned)
- Norkys Batista
- Nicole Curiel
You can catch all the ‘Top Chef VIP’ action from Sunday through Friday. The show airs at 7:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm CT on Telemundo. If you prefer to stream, it’s also available live on both Telemundo’s app and Peacock.
You might also be interested in: Who is Sergio Sendel: From Telenovela Villain to ‘Top Chef VIP 4’s Big Surprise.