RONNIE WOO
Out chef, author, and television personality Ronnie Who had an unconventional career path. At age 19, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a modeling career and later earned two master’s degrees. However, feeling unfulfilled in his professional life, in 2011 he attended a culinary program at the Northwest Culinary Academy, and ultimately decided to become a chef.
Woo has since launched the Delicious Cook, a private chef company where he prepares delicious dishes for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Mindy Kaling, Jessica Alba, and Charlie Sheen. In 2015 he hosted a cooking reality show called Food to Get You Laid, where he helped everyday people make impressive gourmet meals with common ingredients.
But being a private chef hasn’t been without its challenges. “The biggest obstacle I’ve had to face has probably been proving myself in an industry that prioritizes restaurant chefs above all else,” says Woo. “When I tell people I’m a private chef, they look at me and think either I don’t know about food or let alone eat it.”
“The thing with being a private chef is that I have to be a master of all cuisines, be able to adapt to a different kitchen every night and think on my feet because you never know what variables will present themselves in a new environment every night,” he adds.
In March of this year, Woo released a debut cookbook called Did You Eat Yet?: Craveable Recipes From an All-American Asian Chef. “My debut cookbook, Did You Eat Yet?…was such a dream of mine to make and a culmination of my entire life up to this point,” says Woo. “It’s not just recipes, but also stories and really embodies my personality and energy.” @ronniecwoo
ANNALISA PEREA
Annalisa Perea made history this year when she became the first out LGBTQ+ member of the Fresno City Council in California. A businesswoman and an urban planner, Perea is passionate about housing, transportation, and public safety, and she plans to make those policy issues her focus when she becomes president of the council in 2024.
“I wake up every day thinking about ways I can help my city be the best version of itself,” says Perea, who identifies as a lesbian Latina. “At a time our nation is seeing a record amount of anti-LGTBQ bills and an increase in hate crimes, being an elected representative is that much more important in order to use our voice and influence to counter the negative rhetoric that sometimes plagues our communities.”
Even though Perea has only served on the
