Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco of Tucson, AZ took home the top prize at the Acme Oyster House World Oyster Eating Championship on Sunday. Lesco earned third place at last year’s event, but managed to win after consuming 33 dozen oysters in 10 minutes this time around.
The 32-year-old Lesco bested competitive eating legend and eight-time oyster eating champion Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, who came in second place with 31 dozen oysters. 2016 winner Defending champion Adrian “The Rabbit” Morgan of New Orleans too third place with 27 dozen.
The Ace Oyster House World Oyster Eating Championship once again took place at the New Orleans Oyster Festival, which took over Woldenberg Park on Saturday and Sunday. The gathering also featured performances by Flow Tribe, Bonerama, Bag of Donuts, Billy Iuso & Restless Natives, Brass-A-Holics and many more, as well as the P&J Oyster Shucking Competition and the New Orleans Fish House Largest Oyster Contest. Brian Clark of The Oyster Troff in Eustis, FL shucked 20 oysters in two minutes to earn the top spot in that competition, while Captain Pete’s Oysters of Port Sulphur, LA brought in the largest bivalve. The winning oyster weighed 3 lbs. and measured 71/2 inches in length by 43/8 inches in width.