Camille O’Brien represented the Sullivan Catskills this Independence Day on Coney Island for a great American tradition, Nathan’s annual hot dog eating contest. O’Brien ate six and a half weiners in just ten minutes, placing eleventh out of thirteen women.
At the weigh-in on July 3rd, O’Brien was feeling starstruck, surrounded by the biggest names in professional eating, including two former champions. “ It’s so surreal to be right behind Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo right now…. I got to be announced with the people that I’ve been watching for so many years. That’s so cool.”
James Webb, an Australian competing in the contest, sees this event as the pinnacle of U.S. culture. “I never realized what the Fourth of July means to people in America, but you all always find a way to celebrate… So tomorrow there’s gonna be drunk idiots with those big Nathan’s hats. It’s the most fun. I love this week. I bring my whole family from Australia for this week.”
O’Brien has now signed a contract with Major League Eating and is expecting to compete in more events going forward. Next up? Hopefully the buffalo wing contest in Buffalo, NY, she said.
Image: Camille O’Brien at the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Weigh-In. Photo by Annie Bennett