Carlene LeFevre
Encyclopedia
Carlene LeFevre is a competitive eater from Henderson, Nevada
(suburban Las Vegas
). She and her husband, Rich LeFevre
, are said to form the "First Family of Competitive Eating" in spite of having normal weights and ages around 60, and are both top ranked members of the International Federation of Competitive Eating
. The childless couple has combined to take two of the top seven places in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
in 2003, 2004, and 2005. She is nicknamed "The Madam of Etiquette" for her relative degree of decorum while consuming mass quantities of food quickly. Her trademark technique is called the "Carlene Pop," in which she bounces up and down while eating to get the food to settle.
LeFevre grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area
and met her husband at a square dance in Daly City, California
. She has worked as an elementary school teacher, aerobics instructor, and a Mary Kay
cosmetics saleswoman. Her first notable gastronomic achievement was finishing the famed 72 ounce steak from the Big Texan steakhouse in Amarillo, Texas
in 1985. The restaurant provided her meal for free after she finished the steak in under an hour. She has bested the Big Texan's challenge on more than ten occasions since then, and one such event was filmed for the Ripley's Believe It Or Not television program in 2000. The LeFevres started entering eating contests the following year and realized that contest winnings could finance their travels. Since that time, they have competed in numerous competitions around the United States. LeFevre has also competed in a buffet contest in Japan
. While she has placed high in many contests, the only contest she has won that was not a qualifying contest for Nathan's was a Posole (hominy stew) contest in New Mexico
in November 2004.
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
(suburban Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
). She and her husband, Rich LeFevre
Rich LeFevre
Rich LeFevre is a competitive eater from Henderson, Nevada . Rich and his wife, Carlene LeFevre, are said to form the "First Family of Competitive Eating" in spite of having normal weights and ages around 60, and are both top ranked members of the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
, are said to form the "First Family of Competitive Eating" in spite of having normal weights and ages around 60, and are both top ranked members of the International Federation of Competitive Eating
International Federation of Competitive Eating
The International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. is an organization that supervises and regulates eating contests across the globe, acting as a central resource for the sport. Top events include the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, La Costena "Feel the Heat" Jalapeno Eating Challenge, and...
. The childless couple has combined to take two of the top seven places in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual American competitive-eating competition, which is run as a publicity gathering event by Shea Communications. It is held each July 4 at Nathan's Famous Corporation's original, and best-known restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in...
in 2003, 2004, and 2005. She is nicknamed "The Madam of Etiquette" for her relative degree of decorum while consuming mass quantities of food quickly. Her trademark technique is called the "Carlene Pop," in which she bounces up and down while eating to get the food to settle.
LeFevre grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and met her husband at a square dance in Daly City, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She has worked as an elementary school teacher, aerobics instructor, and a Mary Kay
Mary Kay
Mary Kay, Inc. is a privately held company that sells skin care and cosmetics products. Mary Kay World Headquarters is located in Addison, Texas, United States, a Dallas suburb. Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay Inc. on Friday, September 13, 1963...
cosmetics saleswoman. Her first notable gastronomic achievement was finishing the famed 72 ounce steak from the Big Texan steakhouse in Amarillo, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1985. The restaurant provided her meal for free after she finished the steak in under an hour. She has bested the Big Texan's challenge on more than ten occasions since then, and one such event was filmed for the Ripley's Believe It Or Not television program in 2000. The LeFevres started entering eating contests the following year and realized that contest winnings could finance their travels. Since that time, they have competed in numerous competitions around the United States. LeFevre has also competed in a buffet contest in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. While she has placed high in many contests, the only contest she has won that was not a qualifying contest for Nathan's was a Posole (hominy stew) contest in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in November 2004.