Carolyn Portuondo, a Season 8 contestant on “Spring Baking Championship,” earned her BA in chemistry from the University of Colorado, after which she attended the Culinary Institute of America. Following her success at the Culinary Institute, Portuondo went on to work as a pastry chef.

In 2007, Portuondo opened her own bakery, Caked, in Las Vegas, during which time she made several appearances on TLC’s “Fabulous Cake.” In 2014, she became the executive pastry chef at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, and she worked there for four years.

Portuondo later went on to work at a Disney-owned resort and spa called Aulani as an executive pastry chef. She currently lives in Honolulu with her kids, where "she enjoys using various ingredients inspired by Hawaii and her Japanese heritage in her baking," reports Food Network.