Miki Sudo Wins 12th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Title

Miki Sudo's Remarkable Victory at Coney Island

On Saturday, competitive eater Miki Sudo secured her 12th title at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, devouring 38.75 hot dogs and buns within a span of 10 minutes during the event held in Coney Island. The 40-year-old athlete successfully defended her Mustard Belt, having previously won her 11th title in 2025. This year's performance marked an improvement from her last year's total of 33, although it did not surpass her personal best of 51 hot dogs and buns, achieved in 2024.

After her victory, Sudo expressed to ESPN, "I just said I would have to rely on muscle memory and the crowd really carried me through to another belt today." Following her 2025 win, she had mentioned feeling as though she had "let the fans down a little" for not breaking her own record.

Sudo has been a dominant force in the women's division since her debut in 2014, winning every contest she has participated in, except for 2021 when she was pregnant. That year, Michelle Lesco took home the title by consuming 30.75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. In this year's competition, Lesco finished as the runner-up with a total of 22 hot dogs and buns. The 42-year-old from Tucson, Arizona, known as "Cardboard Shell," works as a senior manager of Youth Services at the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona.

Originally hailing from Florida, Sudo graduated from Hillsborough College with a degree in dental hygiene. She shares her life in Florida with her partner, Nick Wehry, who is also a competitive eater, their son Max, and their American Bully dog, Dennis. According to their website, the couple engages in restaurant promotions together.