James Webb (JWebby Can Eat) is a competitive eater from Sydney, Australia, currently ranked the #1 competitive eater in Australia.
Fast Facts
1. James originally launched his own channel on TikTok, where followers loved watching him take on massive portions of food in record time. Over 160,000 people soon followed James as he formally launched his competitive eating career and highlighted his eating talents in-person and online. He currently has over 580,000 followers and 7.3 million likes on TikTok.
2. He also launched his own personal website, YouTube channel, Instagram, Twitch, and more, with help from his girlfriend, Kate.
3. James has taken on many food challenges and eating contests, including team pizza challenges by himself. He once even took down a five-pound calzone in one sitting!
4. James has won many prizes for his eating efforts, including money, t-shirts, and his picture on the Wall of Fame in restaurants across Australia and abroad.
Earlier this month, James competed in a Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier in California, hosted by Major League Eating (MLE).
After weeks of training, James put his eating techniques to the test and achieved first place in the contest with 41.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, winning prizes and a spot in the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in New York on July 4th, 2022.
He became the first Australian contestant ever to compete in and win a Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier.
We talked with JWebby to discuss the qualifier, his first food challenge, the road to Coney Island, and more!
Get your drinks and snacks ready. We are jumping right into it!
JWebby Can Eat Interview
FCN: What is the first food challenge you attempted? Did you complete it?
JWebby: The Kitchener Hotel 5kg burger challenge. It was deemed impossible - but I completed it & a double serving of dessert before the 30 min time cap.
That story made the news Australia-wide!
FCN: Within three weeks of starting your account, you reached over 160,000 followers on TikTok. How did it feel to achieve that many followers in a short amount of time? JWebby: I have my partner Kate to thank for that. She is the brains behind it all! It was such a different thing for me to experience as I used to be very introverted and not really on social media.
FCN: You recently went on a USA food challenge/competitive eating tour. What was your favorite food challenge or eating contest? JWebby: Benny's Pizza contest! My favourite food is pizza, so I really enjoyed that contest, which was also my very first appearance in a Major League Eating sanctioned event. I placed 2nd!
FCN: What is your favorite and least favorite food to eat during a food challenge or eating contest?
JWebby: Most favourite is definitely pizza challenges! My least favourite is definitely loaded fries or anything overloaded with mayonnaise or liquid cheese.
FCN: Your girlfriend, Kate, helps with promotion, behind-the-scenes, and more. How did you meet her? Has she ever taken on a food challenge? JWebby: Kate is the brains and the creative wizard! She helps with more than I can explain.
We went to school together. We have actually known each other since fourth grade.
She is a small eater, so she has never taken on a food challenge, but during Sydney lockdown, we did a few mukbang lives together.
FCN: What has been the most challenging moment in your competitive eating career? JWebby: I think that would definitely be learning to step up on a stage and compete against other competitors both nationally and internationally in a sanctioned event with prize money on the line and having to learn the techniques you need to be competitive. (Example dunking or saucing, etc.)
FCN: What do friends and family think of your eating abilities and accomplishments? JWebby: Well, put it this way...I'm not being invited to a barbeque gathering anytime soon, haha. In all seriousness, my friends think it's cool, but my family is still coming to terms with what I do sometimes, haha.
FCN: Who is your biggest inspiration in competitive eating? JWebby: In Australia, it is definitely my friend Cal, Hulksmashfood - he put competitive eating on the map in Australia! Internationally, it has to be Joey Chestnut for his unbelievable abilities.
I have an unbelievable respect for all the pro eaters across the world - it is not easy to do what we do!
FCN: On Saturday, June 18th, you achieved first place in the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier in Pleasanton, CA, with an astonishing 41.5 hot dogs and buns eaten in 10 minutes.
You also secured your spot as the first Australian contestant in the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in New York on July 4th, 2022.
What was the most memorable moment for you during the qualifier?
JWebby: Definitely the announcement by Sam Barclay, the MC, a fellow Australian- that I had won the contest and, I was the first Australian to go to Coney Island, it hit me that I've achieved something that hadn't been done before.
FCN: What are you most excited about for the upcoming July 4th contest? JWebby: The whole event! Meeting the other pros, getting to experience 4th of July at Coney Island, the festivities, and eating alongside and against the best of the best.
Most of all, getting to do it all with Kate being there to help and support me during, no doubt, the biggest event in the competitive eating world.
FCN: Thank you for taking the time to talk with us, James! Where can our readers find out more about you? JWebby: Thank you for having me and giving me this opportunity to chat!
Readers can look me up on my socials: Instagram ∼ jwebby_can.eat TikTok ∼ jwebby_can.eat YouTube ∼ jwebby can eat Facebook ∼ jwebby can eat Website ∼ https://www.jwebbycaneat.com
Source: JWebby Can Eat
Photo Credits: JWebby Can Eat