PALM BAY, Fla. – Twenty years ago, Dessiree Salaverria moved from Venezuela to the U.S. to fulfill her dream of becoming a computer engineer.
Well, life had other plans for Salaverria, who discovered a passion for Zumba and ended up becoming an instructor for seven years.
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At the peak of her career, she said she had an injury that led to her having multiple surgeries and a total knee replacement. Out of work, she found solace in the kitchen and discovered a hidden talent — cake decorating.
“Soon enough, I realized that my true passion is making cakes, and I want to pursue it for the rest of my life,” Salaverria told News 6.
In 2017, Salaverria started her cake company, SugarDreams, out of her Palm Bay home. It is dedicated to crafting unique cakes for special events, such as weddings.
“I love making unique wedding cakes, using my creativity, and (I) love to make something special on the most important day of the couple’s life,” she said in a prepared statement.
Her business and cake-decorating skills have grown throughout the years, so much so that the Food Network reached out to her.
“At first, I honestly thought it was spam, but then the interviews started happening. I am now excited to announce my participation in “Holiday Wars” on Food Network for season six,” she said.
The competition show features teams made up of a cookie, cake and sugar artists battling it out in different baking challenges to win $25,000.
Salaverria said her experience on the show was amazing, even if she didn’t win and take home the dough.
“At first, I felt a lot of pressure because I didn’t know what to expect. However, the entire production and culinary team was incredible, making all the competitors feel confident and at ease,” Salaverria said. “I recognized many familiar faces among the contestants, as several had participated in other competitions, and I even saw friends I already knew.”
All in all, this experience has given a boost to her business as the increased exposure on social media has allowed her to reach more potential clients. She also remains hopeful of being able to return to another competition show.
“I strongly believe in the power of the three P’s: perseverance, practice and prayer. I’m determined to return to the Food Network, reach the finals, and win,” she said.