Hilda Baci Reveals She Went Weeks Without Eating for Love

Guinness World Record-holding Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci, has opened up about the sacrifices she once made for love.

Baci revealed that she went several weeks without eating during one of the most difficult periods of her romantic life.

The celebrity chef made the revelation while reflecting on her past relationship experiences and the extent to which she was willing to go to maintain a romantic relationship.

Her account has drawn attention to the emotional and personal sacrifices people sometimes make in relationships, particularly when love becomes intertwined with difficult choices and unhealthy expectations.

The chef made the revelation during an interview with BellaNaija at the premiere of Loving Itohan. She explained that the decision was driven by her childhood perception that attractive girls should not eat if they wanted to maintain their beauty.

According to Baci, she was too shy to eat around someone she had a crush on and consequently went for weeks without food. However, she admitted that, with maturity, she now understands that her actions were not an expression of love.

“I didn’t eat, and I realise now that I am older; it wasn’t love. But I was too shy to eat, so I went on for weeks without eating. But I was a child then, so don’t judge me. It wasn’t even a relationship; I had a crush,” she explained.

Baci also reflected on the qualities she values in a romantic partner, identifying effective communication, clarity of intention and the freedom to express oneself as important green flags.

She said she appreciates a partner who communicates openly, understands what they want and allows her to remain true to herself.

Baci became a household name in May 2023 after attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

Her 100-hour cooking marathon in Lagos attracted widespread attention, with Guinness World Records eventually confirming her official record at 93 hours and 11 minutes.

In September 2025, she achieved another global milestone by partnering with Gino Nigeria to prepare 8,780kg of Nigerian-style jollof rice, earning recognition for the largest serving of rice. The achievement further strengthened her reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading culinary personalities.

Her latest revelation has generated conversations about childhood crushes, self-image and the sometimes-unusual things people do in the name of love.

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