Who is Neslie Ricasa? All about Joey Chestnut’s ex-fiancée

Joey Chestnut is known worldwide as a competitive eating legend, but many fans also remember the moment he proposed to his girlfriend Neslie Ricasa during the 2014 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Let’s take a closer look at Neslie, her background, and what happened between the couple.

Who Is Neslie Ricasa?

Neslie Ricasa is a former competitive eater and accounting professional. Though her time in the competitive eating world was short, she made a mark.

• Most notable moment: At the 2013 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Neslie ate 10 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

• Her personal best is 14 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

• She also competed in the 2013 Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship, eating 59 dumplings in 10 minutes.

In addition to competitive eating, Neslie has built a solid career in finance:

• She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from San Jose State University.

• She has worked as an accounting assistant at companies like EK Health Services and Star Elevator.

• Later, she became a financial analyst at Thomas Foods International.

When Did Joey and Neslie Break Up?

Joey and Neslie began dating in 2011. After three years together, Joey proposed to her on stage at Coney Island just before winning the 2014 Nathan’s contest.

They planned to marry in 2015, but sadly, their relationship ended before the wedding. In an interview that year, Joey admitted the breakup was tough but said he wouldn’t let it affect his performance anymore.

“Last year, the whole engagement affected me. This year I will definitely have less distractions,” he told the New York Post.

As of 2025, Neslie Ricasa is now married to Drew Fly. The couple lives in San Jose, California, and they have two children.

Who Is Joey Chestnut?

Joey Chestnut, born November 25, 1983, in Fulton County, Kentucky, is considered the greatest competitive eater in the sport’s history.

• He began competing in 2005, beating Rich LeFevre in an asparagus-eating contest.

• That same year, he debuted in Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest, placing third.

• In 2007, he defeated Takeru Kobayashi and began an unmatched winning streak.

• His all-time best? 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, achieved in 2021.

Joey has won 16 of the last 17 Nathan’s contests. His only loss was in 2015, to Matt Stonie. He missed the 2024 competition due to a sponsorship issue with Impossible Foods, a plant-based brand, which conflicted with Nathan’s beef hot dogs.

However, in June 2025, Joey confirmed his return to the famous July 4th event after resolving the sponsorship issue with Major League Eating.