Vincentian wins Food Network’s ‘Worst Cooks in America’

by Tricia Reddock

‘Tek time fuh kill ants, an yo go find de belly.’

Words from her mother propelled St Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) own Hazell McKenzie to persevere, despite tremendous obstacles and personal challenges to win US$25,000 in the Food Network’s ‘Worst Cooks in America’ reality TV competition, which was broadcast on March 11.

No stranger to adversity, the graduate student’s story began in the close-knit seaside and farming community of Petit Bordel, where she lived with her mother, Cynthia McKenzie, and two younger siblings. Her father, Malcolm McKenzie, resided in the US, working to provide for the family he visited annually.

“I had a happy childhood with my stay-at-home mom; she was the glue that kept our family and community together. My mother didn’t complete school, so she was illiterate. However, she did a magnificent job teaching us the concepts of life, and the importance of education.”

In March 1997, Hazell, with her mother and siblings, left for Brooklyn, New York, to join her father. It would be the first time the family actually lived together after over a decade of marriage.

The reunion proved tragically short-lived, as Cynthia passed away from cancer in 1999. At 18, circumstances compelled Hazell to co-parent her younger siblings, including her newly arrived, special needs baby brother. All this while she was struggling to assimilate.

“I tried so hard to fit into this city where no one says hello. My accent was different, so I felt out of place. It was a difficult adjustment. Then, my mom passed and everything changed. My childhood was gone. My father entered a deep depression, and as the eldest, I had to help take care of my sisters and baby brother. He was unable to cope.”

It was a dark and difficult period. Hazell continued her studies and managed to graduate high school in the top 10. Meanwhile, her father languished, and slowly declined from a broken heart, eventually passing a few years later.

“I was overwhelmed after losing my mom and now this. I was left with the responsibility of raising my two younger sisters and my baby brother. I had two young children at this point, and I also wanted to attend college and follow my dreams.”

De pig ask de hog, ‘Why yo mout so long?’ Hog say, ‘Yo comin; yo go see.’

Hazell was at a crossroads, and again, her mother’s words guided her. Towards the end of 2015, she moved back to SVG to figure out her next move.

“I had financial difficulties during my undergraduate years. It took 10 long years to complete my degree. I was raising my sisters and caring for my brother. Sometimes, I wanted to commit suicide. I was overwhelmed and I needed to get away. I went home for six months. However, my children had difficulty adjusting to the school system; they still used corporal punishment. So, that didn’t work out.”

The young family returned to Brooklyn in early 2016, with little else but prayer.

“After we got back, I remember sitting at my computer praying, “I am innovative, creative, but nothing is going right. Send me a sign, please. Then the casting call for the show appeared on my screen. At first, I ignored it, but it kept nagging me, so I applied. I forgot about it until I heard back several months later.

The rest is history. Hazell competed, and emerged victorious.

“It was a new environment. Working long hours closely with 16 people shooting each episode was challenging.”

The season’s championship was won with duck pelau, which drew upon her Vincentian culinary roots.

Hazell is near the end of her graduate degree programme, and is currently developing a doll she invented. This is a doll that includes a recorder and will alert parents and possibly law enforcement to key words that signal abuse and neglect when children confide in it. This idea was inspired by her personal childhood observation of sex abuse involving someone close, and her feeling helpless and unable to provide support.

Also upcoming is her autobiography, ‘Suitcase of Dreams’, chronicling her experiences migrating to the US.

Hazell remains connected to her community through a partnership with her local representative on a project to rebuild the local school library, as well as a holiday toy drive for children in North Leeward.

Reflecting on her journey, Hazell believes the sum total of all her life experiences combined to lead her to this moment.

“Life is what led me to the social work and the struggle to create and carve out my own identity. All the sayings my mother told me. I learned to be patient, and that everything connects to my spirituality. I had to develop my courage, my faith, and my determination muscles. I learned to be a better cook…. I am truly blessed.”