Paula Deen

Bio:
Paula Deen (born January 19, 1947 in Albany, Georgia) is an American cook and television personality. She started from humble beginnings — a small catering service called The Bag Lady blossomed into a restaurant in Savannah, Georgia called The Lady & Sons. Paula published her first cookbook in 1997, and has since published three more, as well as a memoir. Paula began making appearances on the Food Network in 1999, and started filming her own show, Paula’s Home Cooking, in 2002. Since then, she has had two other Food Network shows: Paula’s Party and Paula’s Best Dishes. In 2013, Food Network announced they would not be renewing Paula’s contract after she admitted to using racial slurs.

Best Known For:
Paula Deen is best known for being a Food Network television personality.

Personal Life:
Paula Deen married Jimmy Deen in 1965. They had two children together — Jamie and Bobby — before divorcing in 1989. Paula reportedly only had $200 to her name after her divorce and before her catering service took off. In 2004, Paula married Michael Groover. Paula received heavy criticism in 2012 when she retroactively announced she had diabetes, in conjunction with promoting a diabetes medication company. But no criticism was stronger than in 2013, when Paula admitted to using the “N word” and many other racial slurs.