CULINARY LITERACY AND PARASOCIAL INTERACTION RELATIONSHIPS: THE ROLE OF HISPANIC CELEBRITY CHEFS IN PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES B Y P A O L A A L B A R R A N W E S T T E X A S A & M U N I V E R S I T Y

INTRODUCTION The phenomenon of celebrity chefs is a vibrant area of study, and previous research has demonstrated it with studies focusing on audience RESULTS & participation, masculinity, and food criticism. However, despite the ubiquity of celebrity chefs in the media, there are limited data related to parasocial relationships, healthy eating, and the influence of Hispanic celebrity chefs in modern society. Due to this lack of scholarly research, DISCUSSION this study examines the phenomenon of the potential of Hispanic celebrity chefs to become role models and promote a healthy lifestyle in Hispanics living in the United States. Finding 1: Hispanic celebrity chefs play a positive role on Hispanic viewers in terms of family- oriented and Latino pride influence as well as educational and leadership influence Finding 2: Hispanic celebrity chefs motivate Hispanic viewers to eat healthily Finding 3: Hispanic viewers perceive Hispanic celebrity chefs as influencing their beliefs, practices, and THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK eating habits A parasocial relationship is defined as an imaginary interpersonal Identification is a process of social influence in which one person adopts Finding 4: Hispanic celebrity chefs relationship between a person and a media character the attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors of another person in order to has helped Hispanic viewers to (Honton and Wohl, 1956). maintain a desired relationship (Brown, 2014). connect to their culture and better adjust to living in the US Finding 5: Hispanic viewers LITERATURE REVIEW METHOD: RQ AND HYPOTHESES responded negatively to Historical background of television This study explored the intersection RQ1: What is the role of HCC in the lives of American cooking shows (Marcel Boulesti and of Hispanic celebrity chefs and consumers of TV cooking shows? Finding 6: Greater consumption of Celebrity Chefs: Hispanic cooking Fanny Cradock: Pioneers TV chefs), parasocial relationships by RQ2: Are HCC motivating Hispanic viewers chows will lead to (Healthy cuisine, and the Guide conducting a quantitative to learn to cook and eat more healthy greater parasocial relationships Michelin), ( and Jamie analysis of the influence of celebrity foods? and stronger identification. Oliver: Running restaurant empires), chefs on individuals’ ifestyles habits, RQ3: How do Hispanic viewers of TV ( goes global). complemented by a qualitative cooking shows perceive SHCC as Understanding the implications The Food Network and food related study of 8-10 Hispanic celebrity influencing their beliefs and habits? of celebrity chefs as role models television channels chefs who are using healthy RQ4: Does watching HCC on TV has can further research on entertainment-education The impact of celebrities and the techniques to increase individual helped Hispanic viewers to connect to behavioral changes. their culture? approaches and mass media- endorsement of healthy foods based health Television cooking shows and RQ5: How are Hispanic viewers initiatives celebrity chefs The chosen research tools included responding to American cooking shows? H1: Greater consumption of HCC cooking The pervasive role of television online surveys (Survey Monkey) , family, education, shows will lead to greater parasocial Food is LOVE Parasocial interaction and and qualitative interviews (Video- humility, leadership, Latino pride, relationships and identification with them. identification with television conferencing). adaptation, and health

personalities and Celebrities

“THE POPULARITY OF LATIN CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS GONE BEYOND THE MCDONALIZATION OF TACOS AND THE