Fatima Ali, Fan Favorite From Bravo’s ‘Top Chef,’ Dies At Age 29 – Tributes Pour In

Fatima Ali, who was crowned “Fan Favorite” of the most recent season of Bravo’s Top Chef, died on Friday after a yearlong struggle with cancer. Surrounded by her friends and family, Ali passed after being given a year to live only months after her success on Top Chef. Her family posted a tribute to her Instagram page, calling Ali “bright and young and vivacious” amongst a collage of photographs from the chef’s young life.

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Ali began her journey when she was just 18 years old, leaving her native Pakistan for New York City to attend the Culinary Institute of America. She was the first Pakistani woman to appear on an episode of Chopped in 2012 (which she won), and had already climbed to become the executive sous chef at New York’s La Fonda Del Sol before she appeared on this past season of Top Chef. On the show, Ali placed fifteenth, but was adored by fans, fellow competitors, and the show’s host Padma Lakshmi.

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Only months after the show ended, however, a persistent ache in her shoulder sent Ali to the emergency room, where she was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. After eight rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer returned in her leg, and this time it had metastasized. Doctors gave her a year to live, which Ali took on with optimism and determination, setting a number of goals for herself which she wrote about in an essay for Bon Apetit. In November, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of being on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she discussed her diagnosis and how she had “so many things” she wanted to do before she passed.

Fellow Top Chef contestants Bruce Kalman and Brother Luck expressed their grief on Instagram, and Lakshmi posted an emotional tribute calling Ali her “lil’ sis.”

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Goodbye lil’ sis. One of our brightest stars has fallen from the sky…. I have no words, but here are some of hers: “I dream of being better. I dream of being myself again, but I know I’ll never quite be the same, and that’s okay. I look forward to meeting that woman one day.” pic.twitter.com/JThpUIbtk7

— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) January 26, 2019

As one of her last projects, Ali recorded a recipe a day with her brother, who will likely publish them in a cookbook to honor her legacy.