Daniela Soto-Innes learned to cook as she was learning to walk and now is the youngest to ever be named World's Best Female Chef. We sat down with Daniela to learn what inspires her, what makes her feel at peace and what brings her optimism for the future.
Anni V-Neck in Black
Paloma in Mischief
Can you think of the moment that inspired you to start your career?
Since before I could walk I was literally with my grandma baking bread and also I learned how to swim before walking, so I was at the same time swimming and cooking. And when I went to the university it was a moment to decide whether you love cooking the most or swimming.
What is one thing you wish you would have known before becoming a chef?
Oh, my gosh, so many things. The hours. The amount of hours that we don’t dedicate to our families. But also, I wish somebody told me, like, as much as how amazing it is to be a chef, you know, how much you will travel and how much you will learn from everything else that has nothing to do with cooking, you know? I think it’s more of like a living, the music, about art, about flowers, just about people in general. I wish people could encourage me a bit more when I decided to be a chef when I was super scared.
What label in your life are you most proud of? Why?
I think a friend and a teacher and a student at the same time, but most of all a friend. I love to keep my friends really close and that includes my family and the people I love.
Anni V-Neck in Black
Paloma in Mischief
What is the best advice you have ever received?
I mean, some of the best advice I’ve ever received was from my Mom and she said, you know, talent is one of the most beautiful things, but also one of the most dangerous things, because you get attention. And she told me, like, just keep your friends really close and your family close and don’t change for a second.
What is the best advice you have to give?
Don’t be afraid of starting your life all over again.
When in life do you feel the most at peace?
When I do a really long sauna and I just lay on the floor and do Shavasana and I just breathe a lot is the most peaceful. But most of it is if everyone around me is happy.
When do you feel the most alive?
I feel the most alive when I’m eating something delicious while dancing and singing at the same time.
What is something you want to do, but haven’t done yet?
I think going to the Amazon River, to the Amazonas and just crossing it all and going on a super wild trip.
Francis Corset Shirt in Black
Jolene in Stormy
What is the best advice you have ever received?
I mean, some of the best advice I’ve ever received was from my Mom and she said, you know, talent is one of the most beautiful things, but also one of the most dangerous things, because you get attention. And she told me, like, just keep your friends really close and your family close and don’t change for a second.
What is the best advice you have to give?
Don’t be afraid of starting your life all over again.
When in life do you feel the most at peace?
When I do a really long sauna and I just lay on the floor and do Shavasana and I just breathe a lot is the most peaceful. But most of it is if everyone around me is happy.
When do you feel the most alive?
I feel the most alive when I’m eating something delicious while dancing and singing at the same time.
What is something you want to do, but haven’t done yet?
I think going to the Amazon River, to the Amazonas and just crossing it all and going on a super wild trip.
Francis Corset Shirt in Black
Jolene in Stormy
Francis Corset Shirt in Black
Jolene in Stormy
"...just keep your friends really close and your family close and don’t change for a second."
Francis Corset Shirt in Black
Jolene in Stormy
Something in the world you hope to see change in your lifetime?
I think just people to be happy for other people’s success and happiness rather than seeing someone happy and being, you know, so mad at each other all the time. I think the moment is just to be at peace with ourselves. And I think after all these years a lot of hate has been happening, so hopefully there is a lot more compassion between each other and more love thrown around.
Something that makes you optimistic for the future?
I think always it should be the next generation. You know, like, seeing young people, and I’m young as well, but seeing young people just succeeding is the happiest thing and the most optimistic you should be, because that’s your future and the future of your family if you are going to have kids.