Representing the United States at WorldSkills in Cooking

SkillsUSA has selected Elizabeth Brown as the official competitor for Cooking at the 2026 WorldSkills Competition. This prestigious international skills competition, often referred to as the “Olympics of skilled trades,” will be held Sept. 22 -27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.

Brown, a native of Columbia, Mo., and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, is the SkillsUSA Missouri high school state champion for culinary arts and the silver medalist in national SkillsUSA Championships for 2023. The SkillsUSA Championships are part of the annual National Leadership & Skills Conference held each June in Atlanta. 

“My experience with SkillsUSA has engrained qualities needed for me to thrive in my industry,” Brown said. “I have been taught organization, time management and work ethic, all backed by passion.”

Brown looks forward to competing against young chefs from all around the world and learning from them.

“This competition means that I have the potential to stand amongst some of each country’s best and could be a turning point for creating a successful name for myself, as well as growing myself personally as a disciplined, hardworking and passionate individual,” she said. “I have worked hard to get here and will continue doing so to prove that I should be in this spot.”

As a child curious about what her mother was cooking in their kitchen to work as a private chef and sustainable line cook, Brown said cooking has always been a constant in her life and a source of confidence and strength.

“Every day is raw and genuine, you see people in every emotion and they see yours as well and are accepted,” she said. “It’s hard work, pushes your limits but also makes you feel accomplished, like you’re a part of something bigger. Notice how every celebration, family gathering, meet-up with an old friend, food is the center. It connects, and I love to be a part of that.”

Brown’s expert for the WorldSkills Competition is Chef Greg Beachey, a 40-year veteran of the food service industry from Silt, Colo. Beachey has managed and overseen the SkillsUSA national culinary competition for more than a decade, allowing him to connect not only with the top young culinarians in the country, but also with the top educators and leading culinary professionals nationwide.

Brown’s participation in the 2026 WorldSkills is supported by Unilever, ZWILLING, the U.S. Coast Guard Culinary Program, Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food, and Smithfield Foods.

Cooking is the fourth competition in which the U.S. delegation will compete during WorldSkills. WorldSkills brings together young people, industry, education, and government leaders from around the world to advance career and technical education and training. Competitors vie for international honors in skill competitions, showcasing dozens of trade skills.