Neslie Ricasa: Journey Of a Competitive Eating Star

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By David

The name Neslie Ricasa might not ring too many bells; however, becoming associated with the competitive eating superstar that is Joey Chestnut made her an overnight sensation. The two spent years together, in a three-year relationship before getting engaged in 2014. Ricasa and Chestnut were bound together by their love for hot dogs, pizza, and wings, being competitive eaters themselves.

Their engagement had been highly publicized when Chestnut proposed shortly before the famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Fans were definitely in for a surprise as two competitive eaters tied the knot-or so they thought. Well, love can get pretty unpredictable at times. The two had broken up before making it to the altar and called their relationship quits in 2015.

Life goes on, of course. Ricasa met a new man and married Drew Ely, an elevator mechanic. The couple has two children. Probably the days of competitive eating are behind Ricasa, but it is a great example of how people do change and find their happiness in the most unlikely manner.

Biographical Overview

Name:Neslie Ricasa Ely
BirthdayJuly 27, 1987
Age37
Birth LocationAlameda, California
EthnicityMixed
NationalityFilipino-American
ReligionChristianity
Zodiac signLeo
Net WorthN/A
Height5 ft 3 in -5 ft 4 in
Weight121 lbs
OccupationFinancial Analyst/Competitive Eater/Ex-Fiancee of Joey Chestnut
InstagramN/A

Who is Neslie Ricasa?

Neslie Ricasa is an American competitive eater. She came into the limelight as the ex-fiancée of Joey Chestnut, a well-known champion in the world of competitive eating.

Neslie and Joey started dating in 2011. They shared a passion for competitive eating which helped further their romance. Joey proposed to Neslie in 2014, before the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Unfortunately, their engagement didn’t last. The two broke up before the date of the wedding. However, Neslie didn’t stop joining eating competitions.

One competition saw Neslie perform wonders by swallowing 14 hot dogs, buns and all. This incredible feat was created at center stage in Coney Island in 2013.

Neslie moved on to another phase of her life after breaking up the engagement with Joey. Presently, she is married and in love with a man named Drew Fly.

While Neslie may not necessarily be in the public eye, her exploits in competitive eating, coupled with her relationship with Joey Chestnut, have made her somewhat of a celebrity to most followers of the sport.

Early Life

Neslie Ricasa grew up in San Jose, California. Although there isn’t much about her childhood, she most likely spent her growing-up years running around the sun-kissed city with family and friends. The combination of city pulsation, along with the nearby natural scenes of San Jose, likely influenced her growing interests.

Ricasa attended San Jose State University as a young adult. Life on the campus which was located in the dynamic hub of Silicon Valley, was undeniably exciting. During this time, she most likely participated in several clubs, formed new acquaintances, and discovered her genuine hobbies.

Information about her parents remains scanty in the public domain though they played their role in Ricasa’s upbringing. Like many families in San Jose, they probably nurtured her education and supported her aspirations.

During university, she had the time to visit the nearby Tech Museum of Innovation or hike in nearby parks. Such exposure activities might have triggered an interest in her and oriented her further toward her goals.

Career Beginnings

Two precisely opposite paths made up Neslie Ricasa’s career. Her career started out as an accounting assistant in which she applied her finance skills and assignments aptly. This job gave her a lot of exposure to the business world.

That was when Ricasa discovered an incredible gift-competitive eating. Curious, she decided she had to try it and registered for her first competition. It was exhilarating and nerve-racking at the same time, but soon she found out she was actually good at it.

Her big break came when she participated in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island, New York. In this well-known contest, contenders come from all over. Her personal best was nothing short of excellent-she had 14 hot dogs and buns in a total of 10 minutes!

Ricasa’s job in finance advanced along with her culinary abilities. She went on to work as a financial analyst, juggling hot dogs at night and figures during the day. Though odd, the mix was ideal for her.

Ricasa was successful in both because of her tenacity. She demonstrated that one might follow their passions regardless of how opposed they may be. It demonstrates that one may have an intriguing, varied professional path with hard effort.

Neslie Ricasa
Photo: facebook.com

What is Neslie Ricasa’s Heights and Weight?

Neslie Ricasa is renowned for being petite in size, being between 5 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 4 inches tall. Her height, measured in metric terms, is between 160 cm and 162 cm.

She weighs around 121 pounds, or 55 kg. Remarkably, she continues to maintain her trim body while indulging in a variety of delectable foods.

Some might be surprised at how small Neslie is, considering the competitive eating circles she moves in. It goes to show that size sometimes has nothing to do with enjoying your food much less competing in eating competitions.

Who is Neslie Ricasa’s Husband?

Drew Fly is now the spouse of Neslie Ricasa, whom he married after she split up with Joey Chestnut, a famous professional competitive eater.

Before marrying Drew, Neslie was engaged to Joey Chestnut. Joey proposed to her just before the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2014. Unfortunately, Neslie’s love story and that of Joey didn’t have a happy ending. They broke up prior to walking down the aisle. That must have been serious for both of them.

Life, however, had other plans for Neslie. She fell in love once again when she met Drew Fly. They married and started the next phase of life together.

It really warms the heart to see Neslie find her happily ever after. The ride leading up to true love can often be quite hindering, but it more often than not leads us to the right people in the end.

Neslie Ricasa’s Net Worth

Being one of the most famous competitive eaters in the game, Neslie Ricasa is doing quite well. Though her net worth is not known, that can be estimated with her career in mind.

Being a financing analyst, Ricasa probably has a very stable income. Financiers usually have well-paying jobs, which could significantly contribute to her net worth.

Her time in competitive eating likely helped her bank account a little extra, too. Not usually the biggest source of income, cash prizes for certain contests often exist.

Ricasa’s fame was perhaps boosted by her association with the legendary figure of competitive eating, Joey Chestnut. Maybe speaking engagements, sponsorship agreements, or other lucrative chances came with this increased prominence.

It is crucial to remember that net worth includes valuable assets like homes and vehicles in addition to liquid cash. Without more information, it is difficult to determine Ricasa’s net worth.

Social Media

Neslie Ricasa remains low-key on social media. She doesn’t seem to have any public accounts on either Instagram or Facebook. A situation like this one makes it difficult for her fans to track the daily life and eating escapades of this competitive eater online.

Unlike the other celebrities, Ricasa manages to keep herself away from the limelight of social media. She is a private person and thus likes to draw boundaries between her personal life and competitive eating. Those looking to follow Ricasa on their respective social media may be out of luck.

Joey Chestnut, her ex-fiance, is far more active on the internet and often shares content about his job and competitive eating. Even if some of her admirers might be disappointed, her social media silence enables her to live a life hidden from prying eyes.

Future Prospects and Vision

The future is bright for Neslie Ricasa. It made a name in the highly competitive sport of eating, but that’s just the beginning. She has far more skills than just wolfing down hot dogs.

Ricasa went to school for finance, so the world is her oyster as far as career options. Perhaps she could use her head to help other professional athletes manage their finances intelligently.

She may also continue to push her limit in the eating contest and set new records that may attract more women into the sport.

Ricasa may even consider a career in coaching. She could teach beginners how to prepare their minds and stomachs for important competitions. Ricasa has the talent and will to achieve no matter which path she chooses. She has proved her ability to complete tasks both on and off the dinner plate.

Fans will definitely be eager to watch what Ricasa does next. Will she continue to compete in competitive eating? Or may she surprise everyone by heading in an entirely other direction? The solution will only be available in time.