Benita on her transition in Spanish Top Chef: 'It took me my whole life'

Benita, previously known in Spanish media as Maestro Joao, made an emotional confession about her gender transition during the fifth episode of the culinary-entertainment show Top Chef: Dulces y Famosos. The new contestant, who joined the competition in March 2026, shared personal reflections on her long wait for freedom and authenticity. During the broadcast, Benita emphasized that this process took her whole life, and she only gained a full sense of liberation after six decades. The show, which featured these words, is an edition of the popular reality show hosted by Paula Vázquez, focusing on confectionery prepared by public figures.

During the culinary competition, Benita prepared a dessert inspired by bee and flower motifs, which became a metaphor for breaking barriers and regaining independence. Recalling her childhood, she evoked an image from her first communion, where as a child she appeared in a traditional sailor suit. She confessed that looking at that photo years later, she sees in it a person trapped in an imposed role and attire she never wanted to accept. Her story met with great emotion from the judges, among whom sit renowned chefs: Paco Roncero, Eva Arguiñano and Osvaldo Gross.

„Han pasado 61 años hasta que he sido libre, me ha llevado toda una vida” (It took 61 years for me to be free, it took me my whole life) — Benita via RTVE

Benita is a well-recognized figure in the Spanish entertainment industry, where she has worked for years as an astrologer, hairdresser, and regular collaborator on television programs. Before announcing her transition, she performed under the pseudonym Maestro Joao, gaining popularity in formats such as Baila como puedas or the Spanish version of Bake Off. Her joining the cast of Top Chef: Dulces y Famosos in the fifth episode of the current season was presented as a significant reinforcement of the group of contestants fighting for the title of best celebrity pastry chef.

The Top Chef format in Spain debuted as a show seeking professional culinary talents, originally hosted by Alberto Chicote, Susi Díaz and Paco Roncero. Over time, the production evolved towards thematic editions, such as the current Dulces y Famosos, which combines competition in the field of confectionery with the participation of well-known media personalities. Benita, as a transgender figure, fits into the trend of increasing the visibility of LGBTQ+ people in Spanish public media, which was already visible during her earlier appearances on RTVE, including in the program Bake Off: Famosos al horno in 2025.

61 (lat) — age at which Benita achieved full freedom

[{"dataISO": "2025-01-12", "data": "January 12, 2025", "tytul": "Participation in Bake Off", "opis": "Appearance on the program Bake Off: Famosos al horno on La 1."}, {"dataISO": "2026-03-11", "data": "March 11, 2026", "tytul": "Top Chef debut", "opis": "Benita joins the fifth episode of Top Chef: Dulces y Famosos."}, {"dataISO": "2026-03-12", "data": "March 12, 2026", "tytul": "Confession about transition", "opis": "Broadcast of the episode with the moving testimony about 61 years of waiting for freedom."}]