Alexis Nikole Nelson

Born with an innate curiosity for the land, Alexis Nikole Nelson showed an interest in foraging from an early age. This innocent hobby in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, has since evolved into a platform for education and advocacy for sustainable eating practices.

Now residing in Columbus, Nelson documents her foraging adventures on her popular social media accounts. She uses these platforms to share vegan recipes made from foraged ingredients, like pawpaw bread and violet syrup. With her light-hearted humor and infectious enthusiasm, she has amassed over 4.5 million followers on TikTok. Her impact was recognized in 2022 when she won the inaugural James Beard Award for Best Social Media Account.

Nelson's work expands beyond her online presence. As a Black forager, vegan cook, and outdoor educator, she continues a long family tradition of farming and foraging. In September 2021, she left her office job to focus full-time on her foraging work, bringing her closer to her roots and sharing her journey with her growing audience.

Nelson's influence reaches far beyond her social media circles. With features in renowned publications such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Food & Wine, she has become a household name in the world of foraging. Her popularity has landed her appearances on national television, including The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Drew Barrymore Show, and even a cameo on a TikTok commercial featuring Martha Stewart. In 2022, she gave a TED Talk at the TED conference in Vancouver. The following year, she appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and her episode on 'Eat This with Yara' titled 'The Awful Truth About ‘No Trespassing’ Signs' received the "Outstanding Lifestyle Program" award at the 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

As she navigates her growing fame, Nelson is preparing to publish her first cookbook with Simon & Schuster. She is also dedicating her time to educate larger audiences through digital content, community outreach, and her 15-episode series on botany for the YouTube channel Crash Course in 2023. Despite the demands of her work and the never-ending content machine known as the internet, Nelson remains committed to her mission of teaching the world about the culinary possibilities of wild plants and sustainable living.