It is with a very heavy heart that I report the news to my fellow Top Chef fans that Fatima has died after a long, painful fight with a rare form of bone cancer. Last night, as I was beginning my latest Top Chef recap, I felt a feeling of loss regarding Fatima. I began my post asking for prayers for her. It was like I knew what was happening and then dismissed the thought because I didn’t want to think about it.
It became evident about a week ago that the end was near. Nearly all of the Top Chef cast had rallied to her bedside to say their farewells. Many of her fellow chefs, and Padma Lakshmi, came to her side when she was diagnosed and continued to check on her through her fight. Padma was very close to Fatima and has cancelled her live chat on Facebook today “for personal reasons.”
Chef Bruce Kalman a fellow contestant on Top Chef season 15 (Colorado) kept us up to date on his visits when he shared, “We all came together, flew in from as far as Alaska, to see this beautiful lady, and got to have some laughs with her. We love you so very much @cheffati #teamfati #4ever #topchef #family #fuckcancer” He also provided an update today, “It’s with a heavy heart we say goodbye to Fatima Ali today, as she has lost her battle with cancer. I will miss you Fati, and you will be in my heart forever. I’ll always remember the great times we had, especially our interview during the tailgating episode discussing football, stadiums, and Taylor Swift. Much love, Bruce 😘 #fuckcancer #cheffati #topchef #friends #family #itsnotfair”
Fatmi was told that she only had a year to live, and it turned out that was much longer than reality. I believe she survived on six months. Before she was hospitalized for the last time I believe she did get to go to some of the finest restaurants she wanted to go to, but she had so many more on her list. As a chef, it was her love for food and experiencing other cultures that was her passion.
Fati charmed everyone as the first Pakistani-American on Top Chef and was voted the resounding fan favorite. Her diagnosis, in 2017, just a couple of months after filming ended was devastating not just to her friends, family and fellow chefs, but to viewers who only knew her from her Top Chef appearance. She was only 29 when she was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer, Ewing’s Sarcoma, that is generally only found in white, male, children. She thought she was in remission after chemo and then in September of 2018 she was told the cancer had metastasized and she only had a year to live.
Fatima had been a professional chef since the age of 18, working in NYC and at one time running a food truck, VanPakistan in addition to working in many restaurants in NYC along the way.
I hope that our prayers last night delivered her into the hands of God and she is finally at peace and looking down at the outpouring of love from so many people. This is a tough one for Top Chef fans.
Fatima Ali was 29.
The video below of Fatima on her favorite show Ellen will give you a good insight to her fighting spirit and should inspire us all to be positive and make the best of our situations.
What a beautiful tribute. Not a watcher of Top Chef, I’ve followed her story through you here and I can feel your anguish. I cried reading this and am sending out prayers for her and her family. My heart aches for her family, friends, you and the fans who obviously loved her. #fuckcancer isn’t strong enough but #FUCKCANCER.
This woman was strong, beautiful, talented and a light in the world. She will be missed terribly.
Yes indeed.
This is just so sad in every way. I do love how she touched so many lives with her spirit and in turn was given so much love and support during her time of need. What a wonderfully sweet woman we were privileged to get to know. She’ll be missed, RIP Fatima.
She was so lovely. Thankfully, she can rest in peace with no pain.
I’m devastated by this news. She was wonderful and so strong. Rest in Eternal Peace sweet Fati. Fly High with the angels 🙏🏻
Godspeed.. such a beautiful woman and soul that left the earth too soon.
Fatima was genuine, full of grace and incredibly talented. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.
While I don’t watch the show, I knew about her illness from the posts here. It makes me so sad. She was much too young. Cancer is such a bitch. I know we have all lost loved ones to cancer much too soon. The loss(es) never get easier. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.
What a lovely tribute, Tamara. This makes me incredibly sad. I don’t even know what else to say. Her posts were so uplifting even in the worst circumstances. It’s so not fair. #FUCKCANCER
So nice to see a comment from you, Susan. I miss you when you are not around.:)
Sobbing right now. Such very sad news.
So very sad. Ewing’s is terrible. Girls definitely suffer from it as well as boys, and it is never an easy treatment.
I just feel such a sense of loss in Fati’s case. What a lovely woman she was, in all senses of being lovely.
It was no urprise she was fan favorite. So ironic the a person so full of life would have hers cut so short. She lived her dream and now she isn’t in pain; those are the comforts for the loved ones she left behind. Those of us who watch aTop Chef were given the beautiful lagniappe of her presence during her season. Godspeed Fati.
It was no urprise she was fan favorite. So ironic the a person so full of life would have hers cut so short. She lived her dream and now she isn’t in pain; those are the comforts for the loved ones she left behind. Those of us who watch aTop Chef were given the beautiful lagniappe of her presence during her season. 💔
Thank you TT for such a beautiful and heartfelt post. She semed to be such a lovely soul taken way too soon.
Fatima faced her illness with grace and humor. Most people can’t manage to have such grace and humor under the best of circumstances. You are an angel now sweet Fatima. Thank you for being you.
She was memorable and that says a lot about her as years have gone by. Glad her fellow chefs and Padma supported her.
What lovely sentiments to honor her, TT. My prayers are with her family and those that loved her.
Times like this really make you realize what a bitch life is. Someone with so much joy and zest for life is taken too soon, while others with little regard for life continue to live on. I’m glad she got to experience some of the places she wanted to.
Only the good die young. RIP
Oh I am heartbroken to hear this, thank you so much for the wonderful tribute
Very lovely and poignant tribute.
This is so sad.
So sad 😔 such a sweet and beautiful soul Fatima was. May she fly with the angels in heaven above.
Rest well.
My younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last month so this really hits home. Fati was so young and talented. Very sad 😢
RIP Fatima
Let us be reminded that in this moment she’s doing the best she’s ever been and that the Lord has restored her health in heaven. RIP.
RIP.
Very Sad. THanks for posting the Ellen clip. It was good to see Fati. Loved her on the show. She was such a genuine person. Prayers to her family and friends.
Really beautiful tribute to her. I hope she passed peacefully. God bless her family and friends.
Sorry to hear this. I enjoyed watching her and seeing a different approach to food that I am used to seeing. Rest In Peace
Don’t watch the show often, but I remember her face because it was so sweet. Just kinda drawn to her. We all have a little psychic in us- yours kicked in I guess you just somehow felt her loss. Inspires me to get busy living, if even just to honor Terry and everyone who is not here anymore because #FUCK CANCER.
Go in peace beautiful Fatima.
Such a moving tribute, thank you Tamara. Of all the Bravo shows Top Chef has always had the closest alumni. I cannot imagine how heavy the hearts are that a bright shining star as Fatima has passed. Fatima was everything any viewer could wish for-bright, articulate, ardent competitor and adventuresome. Her star will always shine bright in the Bravo universe.
fA shining light forever dimmed. She was a beautiful and gentle soul…