Winning $200,000 is a huge deal, especially when you have to show off your cooking skills in a tough competition. Spanish journalist Cristina Porta took home that hefty prize after winning the fourth season of ‘Top Chef VIP.’
At first, she said the money wasn’t the main thing. But now, the 35-year-old star knows exactly what she wants to do with her winnings. She’s thinking about both enjoying the moment and planning for her future.
“I would like to travel,” she shared in a chat with US Weekly En Español. During that same talk, she also explained how she managed to become a cooking champion, even though she started out as a beginner.
Cristina Porta also mentioned she’d love to invest the money in a small apartment, which she called a “pisito.” The tricky part is deciding which country to buy it in. Her work has kept her busy between Spain, Mexico, and the United States over the last few years.
“I still have to decide where I am going to stay to buy it,” said the reporter, who was born in Lleida, Catalonia. She admitted that she’s working less and less in her home country. This means she will likely keep living in the United States.
Cristina Porta. Photo by David Benito/FilmMagic
Cristina Porta Looks Beyond Reality TV
Even though she’s now a reality TV champion, Cristina wants to step away from these kinds of shows. Her goal is to focus entirely on her job as a journalist.
“I hope to get chances here at Telemundo as a journalist, a communicator,” Porta said. “That’s what I’m best at, even more than being on reality shows. So, I hope this next stage is a little calmer.”
Besides ‘Top Chef VIP,’ the star was also on the fourth season of ‘La Casa de los Famosos’ in 2024. She finished in tenth place after 98 days locked in the house. Maripily Rivera from Puerto Rico won that season.
Before that, she first dipped her toes into reality TV with ‘Secret Story: La casa de los secretos’ in 2021. After 105 days on the show, Cristina came in second place. She was only beaten by Luca Onestini, with whom she had a brief romantic relationship.
A Peek into Her Journalism Career
When Cristina Porta started out, she worked as a writer for Spanish shows like ‘Sálvame’ and ‘Cazamariposas.’ Over the years, she moved into sports journalism. She contributed to programs such as ‘Punto Pelota’ (now called ‘El Chiringuito’), ‘Madridistas por el Mundo’ on Real Madrid TV, and ‘Los Infiltrados.’
One of her proudest moments was covering the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia for the Spanish channel La Sexta. That work put her in the national spotlight. She also worked as a presenter on shows for Mega, including ‘The Game Show,’ which she hosted for several seasons.
In the United States, she’s showing up more and more often. Before joining ‘Top Chef VIP,’ she appeared on programs like ‘La Mesa Caliente’ and ‘Pica y se extiende.’ She brings her signature controversial and opinionated style to her journalism work.