Age: 72
female
Hope Hanafin was an award-winning designer in ballet, opera and theatre before moving her focus to motion pictures. In 2005 she was the recipient of New York Women in Film's career achievement award; Designing Hollywood. Hope was raised in New York and California with her five brothers and sisters, by her mother, Art Historian Therese Truitt Whitcomb. Hope earned her B.A, with Honors from Santa Clara University and her M.F.A from New York University. A resident of Venice, California, Hope is the current Vice-President of the Costumes Designer's Guild, but maintains a residence and union membership in New York. She travels widely with her husband, Dr. Robert Zuber, an human rights and environmental organizer.
Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she's focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money. After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They’re there to prove the trolls—including a fellow contestant and their dad—wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan. As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London’s steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen—and they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.
