How Many Female Chefs Have a Michelin Star?

The Michelin star is a hallmark of excellence and status in the culinary world. Earning a Michelin star is an incredible achievement for any chef, and the number of female chefs with one is certainly increasing. However, the numbers are still far lower than that of their male counterparts.

The first female chef to ever earn a Michelin star was Anne-Sophie Pic, who achieved the feat in 2007 at Maison Pic restaurant in Valence, France. Since then, many more women have followed in her footsteps and earned the prestigious accolade.

In 2020, there were 44 female chefs with a Michelin star across Europe. This is an increase from 2019 when there were 34. It’s also worth noting that this figure includes seven head chefs in charge of the kitchen (as opposed to sous or pastry chefs) which suggests that more women are taking on senior roles within these top restaurants.

In comparison, there were over 400 male chefs with a Michelin star in 2020. This means that only around 10% of all Michelin starred chefs are women.

Despite these small numbers, it’s encouraging to see more and more female chefs achieving this accolade each year. As more women take on leading roles within their restaurants, their chances of earning a Michelin star will only increase.

Conclusion: Despite significant progress over recent years, there are still far fewer female chefs with Michelin stars than their male counterparts. However, as more women take on leading roles within their restaurants and strive for excellence in their craft, this number can only continue to rise.