Cristina Porta recently pulled off a culinary shocker, winning ‘Top Chef VIP 4’ on Telemundo. The 35-year-old journalist, known for her sharp wit and powerful personality, usually keeps a brave face. But behind that confident smile and new title, there’s a sensitive soul. She once built walls to protect herself from getting hurt. This show, it turns out, helped her take those walls down.
For the grand finale, Cristina poured her heart into a menu about motherhood. She served up dishes hidden under elegant glass or light-as-air cotton candy. These creations beautifully hinted at a mother’s womb. Her competition was tough, but the judges had no doubt. They handed her the victory.
During a chat with a leading entertainment publication, Cristina opened up about her whole journey on ‘Top Chef VIP’. She shared everything, from surprising her mother with the news she was joining a cooking show – despite knowing nothing about cooking – to her plans for the $200,000 prize money.
Cristina is a sports journalist from Lérida, a city in Catalonia. She’s single, lives life on her own terms, and adores her nephews. She’s also a die-hard fan of Real Madrid. This might seem odd given her birthplace, but Cristina has a clear answer. She simply states, “I never go with the flow.”
The Big Finale and a Sweet Inspiration
Cristina dedicated herself fully to preparing for the final. She knew exactly what she wanted her dishes to say. She also knew her fellow finalists, Salvador Zerboni, Paco Pizaña, and Lorena Herrera, were better chefs than her. But she had a feeling: if her difficult recipes turned out right, she would win. And they did.
She felt like a winner the moment she saw the judges’ faces. Their expressions as they tasted her dishes, inspired by the maternal womb, told her everything. She had spent countless hours scrolling through social media, looking at restaurant plates. One day, she saw a sugar cloud where a sauce was poured. Cristina used tea instead, but that image sparked her idea. It felt original, and seeing the chefs’ reactions confirmed she was on the right track.
Cristina Porta. Photo: Courtesy of Telemundo.
From “CristiFit” to Culinary Champion
Before stepping onto the set of ‘Top Chef VIP 4’, Cristina’s cooking skills were pretty basic. She even used the hashtag “CristiFit” for her simple, healthy meals at home in Madrid. Her diet was mostly vegetables, very few carbs, and lean proteins like salmon and chicken salads.
She admitted she couldn’t even make a Spanish omelet or paella, let alone cook meat. It wasn’t that she disliked cooking. Living alone and without children, she simply never needed to pick up those skills.
The first person to know about her plan to join ‘Top Chef VIP 4’ was her mother. Her mom was shocked but then started helping her. “My mother taught me how to make a Spanish omelet,” Cristina recalled. “I’ve eaten thousands in my life, but it never crossed my mind to ask her or my grandmothers to teach me.” She couldn’t even flip the pan at first. She felt very unsure of herself, but then she started to enjoy it. She found out she was good at something completely new to her.
A Mother’s Love and Lessons Learned
The moment Cristina heard her name called as the winner, her first thought was, “My mother!” Her mom has been with her through every project, always her biggest supporter. She believed in Cristina since childhood and helped shape who she is. Cristina remembers her mother’s advice during school troubles: “Don’t cry in front of people who want to hurt you; you cry with your mom.”
That advice led Cristina to build a protective barrier around herself. She often puts up this “wall,” making her seem incredibly strong. But she confessed that underneath, she’s sensitive and full of doubts, just like many others. “This wall has served me well,” she explained. “It keeps me from getting hurt so much and projects an image of confidence.” Everyone has insecurities. Cristina believed she could win, but her mind also told her no. For those who called her arrogant, she insisted she never underestimated her competitors. She knew she had worked hard, but anything could still happen.
Winning the reality show changed Cristina. She now feels like her “life’s backpack” holds fewer fears and insecurities. This newfound self-assurance, she says, is worth more than any prize.
Chaos in the Kitchen and Future Dreams
Cristina also shared some funny moments from ‘Top Chef VIP’. “Honestly, I made a lot of mistakes that showed I really couldn’t cook,” she laughed. She once left a spoon in the blender when she turned it on. She cut herself often, completely lacking knife skills. She even burned many paper towel rolls by leaving them too close to the burners. Later, she learned to organize herself, which she credits as a key to her success. Still, she admits she’s “a bit chaotic.”
When asked if she’d seek a “rematch” on ‘La Casa de los Famosos’, another Telemundo show, her answer was clear: “No, no, no.” She loved that Telemundo experience and enjoys watching it as a fan. But she hopes for different opportunities at Telemundo now, perhaps as a journalist or communicator. “That’s what I’m best at, even more than being on reality shows,” she stated. She hopes for a “quieter stage” in her career going forward.
Cristina Porta did participate in the fourth season of ‘La Casa de los Famosos’ in 2024. She finished tenth after 98 days in the house. The Puerto Rican star Maripily Rivera ultimately won that reality show.
Now, the ‘Top Chef VIP’ title adds a delicious flavor to Cristina’s TV resume. Hearing about her kitchen adventures reminds us of a famous line from Disney’s “Ratatouille”: “Not everyone can become a great chef, but a great chef can come from anywhere.”