Saint Lucian chef Nina Compton [1], daughter of the late Prime Minister John Compton, was recently the runner-up for the 11th season of the cooking reality show [2]Top Chef [3]. Nicholas Elmi [4] eventually won, but Compton's participation on the show was a major topic of discussion on social media, particularly in the online group Saint Lucians Aiming for Progress [5].
The group organized a public screening of the Top Chef finale at the Derek Walcott Square [6] in the middle of the island's capital [7]. Many observers were surprised that Compton was not named the winner, but she did manage to clinch the “Fan Favorite” award [8] and the US $10,000 prize that went along with it – an indication of the high level of online support she received. After the show, Compton was named a “culinary ambassador” [9]by Saint Lucia's Minister of Tourism, Lorne Theophilus.
Compton received massive support over Twitter via the hashtags #TeamNina [10], #TeamGreenFigAndSaltFish [11], #Team758 [12] and #NinaNation [13]. Some users of the microblogging service voiced their displeasure with her second place finish, but most were more concerned about congratulating her on her success:
So #topchef [14] choose someone who can cook spam and inconsistent over two ladies who showed them what being brilliant chefs are
— Suzi Saint Lucia (@carnille) February 6, 2014 [15]
We eh care wa da judges say Chef Nina all the way!!! #TeamNina [16] #TopChef [17]
— lanzie-melissa_grey❤ (@Lanzie_04) February 6, 2014 [18]
One Twitter user sardonically suggested that Compton could have won she had used his suggestion:
#teamgreenfigandsaltfish [19] I tell NINA cook" pehmi and flour porride" 4 desert she go and do her own ting!
— Megabite de Artiste (@MegabiteVictor) February 6, 2014 [20]
Trinidadian fashion designer Anya Ayoung-Chee, who won the fashion competition Project Runway in 2011 [21], also tweeted her support for Compton:
Congrats to @nina_compton [22] for winning in the hearts & minds of many! Your island spirit shone bright! #TopChef [17] belongs to you!!