'Food Network Star' Season 9 Features Louisville Chef Damaris Phillips

Louisville's Damaris Phillips will be competing for her own Food Network TV show this summer on "Food Network Star." Phillips is currently a culinary arts instructor at Jefferson Community and Technical College. "Food Network Star's" season nine premier is scheduled to air Sunday, June 2 at 9 p.m. The audience will select the show's winner on its Aug. 11 finale.

UPDATE June 3., 2013: Phillips now has a Facebook fan page and a Twitter account.

According to the show's website:

Contenders will travel to Los Angeles to begin an 11-week journey, complete with all-new Mentor and Star Challenges, surprise chef guests and on-location demands. For the finalists, simply showing off advanced cooking chops or shining camera-ready smiles won't be enough. If they want to survive weekly eliminations, they'll have to work their way to the coveted Star sweet spot, demonstrating both a mastery of the kitchen and an effortless television charm.

Alton Brown, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis will be back to mentor the contestants through each phase of the competition, but this season they're doing so from across the judges' table as members of the selection committee.

Here's the trailer for the season (Phillips is the contestant who breaks down at the 42-second mark):

·The Next Food Network Star Season 9 Premieres June 2, Cast Announced [Zagat]
·Louisville's Ashley Holt Wins TLC's 'Next Great Baker' [~ELOU~]

[Photo: Courtesy "Food Network Star"]