She has been crowned the winner of Celebrity MasterChef 2022 after wowing the judges, Gregg Wallace and John Torrode, with a “daring” menu in the show’s final which aired last night on Thursday, September 22.
The model and podcast host triumphed over fellow stars McFly’s Danny Jones and pop sensation Mel Blatt with a trio of dishes that saw her cooking a starter of poached rhubarb and pan fried mackerel with a fennel slaw; a main course of pan fried duck breast with mushrooms - a dish which, earlier in the competition, went slightly awry - and a dessert of chocolate tart with crème fraiche and sour cherries.
Receiving the trophy, Lisa said: “It’s such a life-changing experience. I feel like this isn’t real! I just can’t believe it. I couldn’t have wanted to win something that meant more to me than this. I am on cloud nine. I love it.”
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But when she’s not in the kitchen whipping up a storm fit for a champion, who is Lisa Snowdon? We take a deep dive into her life, looking at her Hollywood romances, struggles with menopause and succesful career in the limelight.
Lisa Snowdon’s career
The 50-year-old skyrocketed into the world of modelling in the early '90s after she was spotted at the age of 19 and soon became one of Britain’s most renowned fashion models. She often made appearances on the FHM 100 Sexiest Women of the Year list during that time and her career has seen her grace the front covers of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire - to name a few - as well as becoming the face of fashion powerhouse Gucci.
People will also recognise her from a variety of beauty commercials as well as advertisements and campaigns for brands such as Dove, Mercedes-Benz, Kellogg’s Special K, After Eight, Neutrogena, Belvita breakfast biscuits and Marks & Spencer.
Alongside modelling, Lisa has dabbled in radio and in 2008 became Denise Van Outen’s replacement on Capital London as a co-host with Jonny Vaughan. She currently hosts Capital FM’s Breakfast Show with Dave Berry.
Her first role in presenting was on MTV UK and later appeared as a ‘supermodel’ judge and host on Britain’s Next Top Model. Since she has gone on to star on breakfast shows and panels such as Loose Women, This Morning - on which she discusses the latest fashion trends among other things - Lorraine and appeared on the 16th series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! - she was sadly the second celebrity to be voted off the show.
In 2008 Lisa took part in Strictly Come Dancing, where she reached the semi final, coming third in the show with partner Brendan Cole after weeks of perfect scores.
She is also host of the podcast Get Lifted with Lisa Snowdon, which explores the “four key pillars of our health; mental, physical, emotional and spiritual” as well as co-presenting an Instagram and Youtube series, Menopause Madness with Dr. Naomi Potter. The series allows women to explore their menopause experience openly and freely in a safe space - free from judgment.
Lisa Snowdon’s Hollywood love life
The Celebrity Masterchef champion is currently engaged to entrepreneur George Smart. The businessman from Yorkshire popped the question just before Christmas in 2016. The pair were firm friends for 15 years after meeting at MTV before friendship turned into romance over six years ago.
Speaking of the engagement in a previous interview with Fabulous magazine, Lisa said: “I had absolutely no idea he was going to do it – he chose the most beautiful diamond ring which I love and it fits perfectly.”
But before she found her happily ever after in George - who is seven years younger than the model - there was another rather famous George who held her heart for some time: George Clooney.
The pair had a “wild” on-off relationship that lasted five years after they met on the set of an advert for Martini in 2000. Speaking to The Sun earlier this year, Lisa said of their relationship: “George was charming, a really nice man, good fun and we had a great time. It was quite wild.” She added: “Sometimes I think it will be written on my tombstone — ‘George Clooney once dated Lisa Snowdon’" although she has vowed to keep the private parts of their relationship strictly secret.
He hasn’t been the only celebrity Lisa has dated, though. She’s been linked, in the past, to British supermodel Paul Sculfor and CSI actor Gary Dourdan.
And while her love life has seen a slight move away from Hollywood, her close friends are very much part of the LA glitterati - her best friends include Matt Damon’s wife Luciana Barroso and the ex-wife of one of George Clooney’s close friends, Michele Merkin.
The menopause and empowering women
Lisa has been hugely vocal about living through the menopause and her struggles with it - on segments on television, in interviews and on her own social media. After first experiencing it at just 42 with the perimenopause, the model and presenter has spoken openly in recent years of her crippling symptoms which included mood swings, anxiety, heart palpitations, fevers, hot flushes, night sweats weight gain - among others.
Now, a year into the full menopause, she speaks openly about the balance she's found through taking HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy, which has been a “game-changer” for the star, despite its "bad reputation" - a daily oestrogen spray and progesterone pill as well as a testerone gel. Although, as she explained in a previous interview with You magazine, that doesn't mean she is without her struggles.
In an Instagram live earlier this year as part of her Menopause Madness series, she spoke to her followers about dealing with the menopause and the emotional rollercoaster it takes you on. As reported by The Mirror, she revealed: “Let's be brutally honest about the fact that it isn't always as simple as get on your HRT and you're going to be fine. I think I'm probably going to get a bit emotional today because it has been hard this weekend and I've been an absolute cow to George."
She added of the ‘rages’ that many of her followers, too, have experienced. She said: “These uncontrollable rages that you just turn into somebody else. It's horrible.”
And it’s not just the symptoms of the menopause in its full throttle that have affected the star. Lisa Snowdon revealed last year that these changes in hormones - which usually happens to women in their 40s and 50s - “stole her chance” to conceive naturally, as reported by The Mirror. Although having come to terms with it, she said to You: "It’s all worked out for the best."
Through her series and various TV appearances, Lisa Snowdon is passionate about fueling the conversation and providing a safe space for menopausal women to chat about their experiences.
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