It had been more than a decade since she competed, but Evelia Wallace was sure she’d win.
Wallace, 35, used to compete in her twenties, always securing a close second place — rarely a first. She secured her only win in 2013, at the OC Fair.
But the lure of a victory was calling to Wallace again. Visiting from Katy, Texas, winning an OC Fair food-eating contest was on her bucket list.
“Whether I win or lose, it’s the thrill of putting myself out there and having fun. But I was pretty confident,” Wallace said.
The OC Fair hosted nightly food-eating contests on its Promenade Stage during its 23-day run, offering rounds for different age cohorts: one for 5-10 years, 11-17 years and an adult round.
The contests are sponsored by various fair food vendors. Hosted by Fruit Caboose, the challenge for Wallace and the other competitors this recent night was to see who could eat the most soft-serve ice cream in 30 seconds.
Wallace was competing for a $20 gift card to Northgate Market, but there was more on the line. Her step-parents and two children were watching from the audience. And that night, a friend was among the seven other contestants.
But Wallace wasn’t intimidated. She was intent on securing the “bragging rights.”
Fair officials placed a “cow pie,” in front of each competitor — a plate of vanilla-chocolate swirl soft serve ice cream topped with whipped cream, sprinkles and chocolate sauce. They’d have to finish the plate with both hands behind their back.
The crowd began counting down: “Five, four, three, two, one!”
Wallace immediately dug in. Using a “slurping method,” she focused on eating as much ice cream as she could, and on doing so faster than the competition.
“I was literally just trying to beat my friend next to me. I was excited that she would do it with me,” Wallace said.
There were 30 seconds on the clock at the start of the contest, but Wallace had finished the majority of the plate in 20 seconds. She dedicated the last 10 seconds to a thorough cleaning.
When the time was up, fair officials examined each contestant’s plate, determining who had eaten the most.
“We have a winner!” the emcee announced. He pointed to Wallace, who began screaming and jumping, egged on by the crowd’s enthusiastic shouts and applause.
Wallace, who visits California annually, said she intends to compete again.
“Probably next year,” Wallace said. “It’s so exciting. I just love it, it is so fun.”
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