Hilda Effiong Bassey (born September 20, 1996), popularly known as Hilda Baci, is a Nigerian celebrity chef, restaurateur, entrepreneur, and media personality who achieved global recognition for her endurance in the kitchen.
Early Life and Family
- Origin: Hilda Baci hails from Akwa Ibom State, located in South-Eastern Nigeria.
- Family: She grew up as the second of seven children, primarily raised by her mother in Abuja.
- Mother’s Influence: Her mother, a restaurateur, played a crucial role in introducing her to the culinary world. Baci has spoken about how her mother’s own business challenges later inspired her to succeed and become a source of support for her family. Her father is reportedly a medical doctor.
- Siblings: While she has a large family, specific public details about her brother and other siblings are not widely available.
Education
- University: Hilda Baci attended Madonna University, Okija, where she earned a degree in Sociology.
- Culinary Training: Despite her academic background, her passion and career path were firmly established in the culinary arts.
Career and Guinness World Record
- Early Career: Before focusing solely on cooking, Baci worked as a TV presenter for two years, demonstrating her versatility in media. She also won the Jollof Faceoff competition in 2021.
- Business: She is the CEO and Head Chef of her restaurant and catering brand, Myfoodbyhilda, which has expanded to multiple locations. She also teaches culinary classes, mentoring thousands of students.
- Guinness World Record (GWR) Attempt (May 2023): Hilda Baci gained international fame for her attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
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- She cooked for 100 hours and 40 minutes at Amore Gardens in Lagos, attracting massive national and global support.
- After a rigorous review of the evidence, GWR officially confirmed her as the new record holder in June 2023 with a certified time of 93 hours and 11 minutes. (Approximately seven hours were deducted for mistakenly taking extra minutes during rest breaks).
- Dethronement and Subsequent Record: Her GWR title was later surpassed by another chef in October 2023. However, Baci successfully set a new GWR title in 2024 for the Largest Serving of Nigerian Style Jollof Rice (in collaboration with a brand), further cementing her status in the culinary record books.
Net Worth
- Hilda Baci’s net worth has seen a significant increase following her record-breaking fame, endorsements, and the expansion of her restaurant and culinary teaching business.
- While precise, verifiable figures for her current 2025 net worth are not publicly released, various estimates placed her net worth around $250,000 USD (approximately N115 million) even before her record was officially confirmed, a figure which has since grown substantially due to her newfound celebrity status and commercial success.
Scandal and Controversy
Hilda Baci’s time in the global spotlight has come with a few controversies:
- GWR Time Deduction: The most discussed issue was the deduction of almost seven hours from her final time by Guinness World Records. Though standard procedure, it sparked debates among her fans who had celebrated the full 100-hour mark.
- Cash Prize Claims: False claims circulated widely on social media that she had received a N250 million cash prize from GWR. Guinness World Records officially refuted these claims, stating that they do not award cash prizes for setting records.
- Personal Image and Lifestyle: Like many public figures, she has faced scrutiny over her fashion choices and personal lifestyle, particularly from critics who contrast her public image with her strong Christian faith.
- Weight Loss Journey: An old video of her in a larger size resurfaced during her cook-a-thon, which, while not a controversy initiated by her, unfortunately fueled fat-shaming comments directed at other women online. Baci, who had lost a significant amount of weight, shared that her fitness journey was essential for building the physical and mental stamina needed for the marathon attempt.
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