Renowned Chef Betty Vázquez Joins Chef Antonio “Toño” De Livier and Chef Tita to Turn Up the Heat and Decide Who Will be the Next Top Chef VIP
MIAMI, FL – July 15, 2025 – The heat is back on as Telemundo’s Top Chef VIP fires up the kitchen once again with a new season premiering Tuesday, July 29 at 7PM/6c. This fourth edition features the return of acclaimed Latin American chefs Antonio “Toño” de Livier and Chef Tita, who will welcome renowned Chef Betty Vázquez. Together, this powerhouse judging panel will put 20 celebrities to the test with high-stakes culinary challenges designed to push them to their limits. Under intense pressure, contestants will showcase their skills in the most demanding kitchen on Spanish-language television, as the judges determine who advances, who goes home, and who will ultimately claim the Top Chef VIP title and the $200,000 grand prize.
Having previously served as a guest judge on the show, Chef Betty Vázquez joins as a member of this season’s judging panel. A renowned ambassador of Mexican cuisine, originally from San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico, and executive chef of the El Delfín restaurant, she trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and has represented Nayarit cuisine on international stages. She has served as a judge in other hit culinary competitions in her native Mexico, where she stood out for her charming personality and expertise. Among her many recognitions, she has been named International Ambassador of Nayarit Cuisine and one of the 100 most important chefs of traditional Mexican cuisine by the Culinary Institute of America.
The beloved Antonio De Livier, better known as Chef Toño, returns as a judge for the fourth time. Originally from Mexicali, Baja California, he is one of the most creative figures in contemporary Mexican cuisine. Professionally trained in the United States, he has been awarded the prestigious Five Star Diamond Award and is the author of the cookbook Let’s Cook. Owner of successful restaurants such as La Panga del Impostor and Puerco Nuevo, De Livier has revolutionized the culinary scene with innovative propositions. His restaurant Fellini’s was awarded the AAA Four Diamond Award, a distinction reserved for establishments of excellence.
Inés Páez, better known as Chef Tita, also returns for this fourth season of Top Chef VIP, following her participation in the previous edition. This ambassador and creator of the New Dominican Cuisine has reinvented dozens of traditional recipes from her native Dominican Republic and has received significant honors. Among them, she was awarded two knives by The Best Chef Awards, becoming the first Dominican to be included in this prestigious international list. She has also been recognized by La Liste in Paris, named Gourmet Excellence Personality 2019, and awarded the Medal of Dominican Women. Owner of the restaurant Aguají in her native country, she was included by Forbes in 2021 among the 100 most powerful women in Central America and the Caribbean, among other recognitions.
Hosted by Carmen Villalobos, the fourth season of Top Chef VIP will bring together a fresh lineup of 20 renowned personalities who will put their culinary skills to the test in episodes airing weekdays and Sundays. Week after week, their abilities and techniques will be evaluated by a panel of esteemed professional chefs, whose mission is to monitor their progress, mentor their development, and ultimately decide who stays and who leaves the competition. In the end, only one will rise above the rest to be crowned season champion, taking home the coveted Top Chef VIP title and a $200,000 cash prize.
The participants of this new season are: Sergio Sendel, Lorena Herrera, Juan Soler, Cristina Porta, Jerry Bazúa, Valeria Cuevas, Sergio Goyri, Nicole Curiel, Curvy Zelma, Elvis Crespo, Héctor Sandarti, Salvador Zerboni, Paco Pizaña, Matías Ochoa, Christopher Vélez, Angélica Celaya, Yany Prado, Norkys Batista, Celinee Santos, and Karina “La Voz” Moreno.
Audiences will be able to watch Top Chef VIP on Telemundo, or catch up on the Telemundo app (available on Google Play Store and Apple Store) and Telemundo.com. New episodes will also be available to stream the next day on Peacock. The reality competition also airs on Telemundo Internacional for viewers across Spanish-speaking Latin America.
Viewers can explore additional exclusive content by visiting Telemundo.com/TopChefVIP and following @TelemundoEntretenimiento on YouTube. Fans can join the conversation using the hashtag #TopChefVIP4 on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X, and by following @TelemundoRealities.
Top Chef VIP is a RCN production for Telemundo based on NBCUniversal Formats’ Top Chef franchise, under the executive production of Francisco “Cisco” Suarez, Executive Vice President of Programming for Realities and Primetime Specials of Telemundo, along with Luciano Cardinali and Fernando Lorente as executive producers.
About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises:
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises leads the media industry in the production and distribution of Spanish-language content for U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. The company serves U.S. Hispanics through its national broadcast network, the cable network Universo, and digital platforms including the Telemundo app, a suite of FAST channels, and streaming services, such as Peacock, among others. The Telemundo Network offers Spanish-language entertainment, news, and sports content reaching 95% of U.S. Hispanic TV households in 210 markets through 30 owned stations and 91 affiliate stations. Telemundo also owns an independent station serving Puerto Rico. Anchored on Telemundo Studios, the network is the #1 producer of scripted Spanish-language content in the U.S., and the only network to produce original content specifically for US Hispanic audiences. Offering over 600 hours of reality TV shows a year, and top-rated live specials such as the Billboard Latin Music Awards and Miss Universe, Telemundo is considered the undisputed Home of Live TV in Hispanic media. The network is also the exclusive Spanish-language home of the world’s two most popular sporting events, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
Press contact:
Gerardo Oyola
Director, Alternative Programming Publicity
gerardo.oyola@nbcuni.com
