A Baker's Dozen Compete To Be TLC's NEXT GREAT BAKER

13 Contestants vying for $100,000 prize and chance to work at Carlo's Bakery
 
Buddy "Cake Boss" Valastro is looking for the NEXT GREAT BAKER and 13 aspiring cake artists are entering the kitchen to see if can bake their way to the top. At stake: the sweet prize of $100,000, a four-page feature in Brides Magazine, and a chance to work side-by-side with Buddy and his team at Carlo's Bakery.
 
The 10-episode season kicks off with a special 90-minute premiere on Monday, November 28 at 9pm ET/PT. The season one finale - which crowned Dana Hebert the winner - averaged 2.34 million viewers, up +67% from its series debut.
 
"This season is bigger and better - we've doubled the prize, the challenges are tougher, and there's a seasoned 'bakers dozen' fighting it out to prove to me they have what it takes to hang with the Carlo's crew," said Buddy Valastro.
 
This season's contestants include:
 
Ryan Cimorelli, Providence, RI
30 years old; Owner, The Bakery Boutique in Smithfield, RI.
Meet Ryan: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-ryan.html
 
Wesley Durden, Fayetteville NC                
29 years old; Active serviceman with 82nd Airborn Division, based at Fort Bragg.
Meet Wesley: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-wesley.html
 
Chad Fitzgerald, Duncanville, TX
44 years old; Owner of THE CAKE GUYS in Dallas and Duncanville, TX; also a High School Math Teacher.
Meet Chad: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-chad.html
 
Jasmine Frank, Los Angeles, CA
20 years old; Pastry Chef at Jazzy Cakes
Meet Jasmine: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-jasmine.html
 
Tony Frys, Forth Worth, TX
23 years old; a co-owner of "The Sugar Art"
Meet Tony: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-tony.html
 
Heather Grubb, Knoxville, TN
31 years old; owner of Cake of Knoxville.
Meet Heather: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-heather-g.html
 
Megan Hart, Pittsburgh PA
38 years old; works as a paramedic for the city of Pittsburgh.
Meet Megan: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-megan.html
 
Marissa Lopez, Pompton Lakes NJ
24 years old; Cake decorator at the Brownstone in Patterson NJ and small business owner.
Meet Marissa: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-marissa.html
 
Heather Macia, Las Vegas, NV
32 years old; a culinary school graduate, she currently works as an exotic dancer.
Meet Heather: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-heather-m.html
 
Carmello Oquendo, Worcester, MA
43 years old; a retired Gang Unit Police Officer and now the "Cakefather of Worcester."
Meet Carmello: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-carmello.html
 
Nadine Reibeling, New York, NY
28 years old; owner of Lolly Love, LLC, and also works in catering sales for a hotel.
Meet Nadine: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-nadine.html
 
Minerva Vasquez, Miami, FL             
46 years old; a personal chef and cake artist
Meet Minerva: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-minerva.html
 
Sara Williams, Cedartown, GA                          
39 years old; owner of a bakery, Crickette's Cakes
Meet Sara: http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/next-great-baker-season-2-contestants-sara.html
 
The series fan site can be found at http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/next-great-baker.
 
NEXT GREAT BAKER is produced for TLC by High Noon Entertainment.