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The Diva Chef's Redemption: Where Is Elise Wims From Hell's Kitchen Season 9 Now? (Updated 2025)

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Elise Wims, famously dubbed the "Diva Chef" during her explosive run on *Hell's Kitchen* Season 9, remains one of the most polarizing and unforgettable contestants in the show's history. Her fiery personality, combined with genuine culinary skill, propelled her to a third-place finish and earned her a controversial return in *Hell's Kitchen: All-Stars* (Season 17). As of December 2025, the chef who once sparked constant drama in Gordon Ramsay's kitchen has undergone a significant personal and professional transformation, pivoting away from the grueling restaurant world to embrace a new role as a prominent health and wellness advocate. The intense curiosity surrounding Elise Wims—why she was kept on despite the drama, how she performed in two separate seasons, and what she is doing today—is a testament to her undeniable on-screen presence. This deep dive explores her complete journey, from her culinary beginnings and her infamous television appearances to her current, much calmer life as a dedicated coach and family woman.

Elise Wims: The Complete Biography and Profile

Elise Wims, now known as Elise Harris, has built a career defined by both culinary talent and reality television notoriety. Her journey began far from the bright lights of Hollywood, focusing on a solid foundation in the culinary arts.

  • Full Name: Elise M. Wims (now Elise Harris)
  • Nickname: The Diva Chef, Diva Chef From Hell
  • Hometown/Origin: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Education: Pennsylvania Culinary Institute (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Initial Career: Chef at Andora Restaurant (Pittsburgh area) before Season 9.
  • Hell's Kitchen Seasons: Season 9 (3rd Place) and Season 17: All-Stars (7th Place)
  • Current Occupation (2025): Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Fitness Enthusiast, and Entrepreneur.
  • Marital Status: Married to Chris Wims (they married in 2017).
  • Current Residence: Stafford, Virginia

The Turbulent Legacy of Hell's Kitchen Season 9

Elise Wims first entered the intense culinary competition in 2011 on *Hell's Kitchen* Season 9, immediately establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with—for better or for worse. Her performance was a constant tightrope walk between exceptional skill and explosive confrontations, making her a lightning rod for controversy.

On the one hand, Elise demonstrated significant cooking ability, often excelling in challenges and delivering strong performances during dinner services. She was one of the few contestants who seemed to genuinely impress Chef Gordon Ramsay with her food at times. This skill level is what ultimately propelled her to the final three, a remarkable achievement in a highly competitive season.

However, her tenure was overshadowed by her volatile personality and inability to work cooperatively with her teammates. She was frequently involved in dramatic, loud arguments with nearly every other chef, particularly the other women in the red kitchen.

The infamous "Diva Chef" nickname stuck because of her demanding nature and her perception of herself as superior to her peers. Fans and even her fellow contestants often speculated that Chef Ramsay kept her around longer than her mistakes warranted purely for the dramatic television content she provided. This speculation only fueled the controversy surrounding her third-place finish.

The All-Stars Return: Season 17

Given her memorable—and highly controversial—run on Season 9, it was no surprise when Elise was invited back for *Hell's Kitchen: All-Stars* (Season 17) in 2017. Fans were eager to see if the "Diva Chef" had mellowed with age and experience.

Unfortunately for her teammates, the drama quickly resumed. Elise’s return was marked by the same intense confrontations and unwillingness to accept criticism that defined her first appearance. She clashed with several chefs, proving that her fiery personality was still very much a part of her cooking style.

Despite the continued in-kitchen chaos, Elise again managed to survive deep into the competition, finishing in 7th place. Her two appearances cemented her legacy as one of the most compelling and contentious figures in the entire *Hell's Kitchen* franchise, a chef who could cook but struggled immensely with the team dynamic required in a professional kitchen.

Elise Wims Now: Life as a Health and Wellness Coach

Following her final appearance on *Hell's Kitchen*, Elise Wims made a remarkable pivot that seems to have brought her the peace and fulfillment she struggled to find in the high-pressure world of fine dining. The former "Diva Chef" is now a dedicated Health and Wellness Coach.

This career change aligns perfectly with her personal passion for fitness and healthy living. Elise has transitioned her focus from preparing high-end restaurant meals to helping others achieve their physical and nutritional goals. She is known to be a committed fitness enthusiast and bodybuilder, often sharing her workout routines and healthy eating tips with her followers.

Her current work involves coaching clients on nutrition, exercise, and overall well-being, utilizing her culinary background to create balanced and delicious meal plans. This new path represents a significant personal evolution, channeling her intense drive and focus—qualities that made her a formidable competitor—into a positive, empowering career.

Personal Life and Other Ventures

Elise's personal life has also seen positive developments since her reality TV days. In 2017, she married Chris Wims, a milestone she celebrated at Potomac Point Winery. She now resides in Stafford, Virginia, with her husband (which is why she is sometimes referred to as Elise Harris).

Beyond her main coaching business, Elise has also explored other avenues in the entertainment world, leveraging her reality TV fame. She partnered with Bravo and appeared on the reality series *Apres Ski*, demonstrating her continued interest in media and entertainment, though her primary focus remains on health and fitness.

Her social media presence reflects this transformation, showcasing a life centered on fitness, family, and positive motivation, a stark contrast to the volatile personality viewers saw in the Red Kitchen. She has successfully rebranded herself from a controversial reality TV star to a respected figure in the wellness community.

The True Meaning of Elise's Hell's Kitchen Journey

Elise Wims’s experience on *Hell's Kitchen* Season 9 and *All-Stars* is a powerful case study in how reality television can both expose flaws and reveal underlying strengths. While her on-screen behavior earned her the title of one of the show's biggest villains, it also highlighted a competitive spirit and a deep-seated desire to win that is now being applied to a different, healthier industry.

Her journey from the pressure cooker of Chef Ramsay's kitchen to the world of health coaching proves that a controversial past does not dictate one's future. For fans of *Hell's Kitchen*, Elise Wims remains a fascinating figure—a reminder that the most compelling contestants are often the ones who are the most complex. Her current work as a coach is a genuine redemption arc, showing that the "Diva Chef" found her true calling not in the heat of the kitchen, but in helping others achieve their best selves.

elise hell's kitchen season 9
elise hell's kitchen season 9

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