Kardea Brown was born on November 16, 1987, in Charleston, South Carolina. She is of Gullah/Geechee descent, a community whose roots trace back to West Africa, and her grandmother, who is from nearby Wadmalaw Island, played a major role in shaping her love of food. She initially pursued a career in social work after earning a psychology degree, before deciding to pursue her culinary passion.

Her TV journey began in 2015, when a then-boyfriend submitted an audition tape to Food Network on her behalf. Though she didn’t land a role right away, the network later invited her back. Kardea returned to Charleston, launched the New Gullah Supper Club — a pop-up dining experience celebrating traditional coastal cuisine — and in 2019 debuted her own show, Delicious Miss Brown, on Food Network.

Today, Kardea remains a cornerstone of Food Network’s lineup. She co-hosts Kids Baking Championship alongside Duff Goldman and co-hosted Baking Championship: Next Gen, which aired in early 2026. Beyond television, she opened her first restaurant, Kardea Brown’s Southern Kitchen, at the Charleston Airport in April 2025, and has published multiple cookbooks, including the 2025 release Make Do with What You Have.