Mariya Russell

Mariya Moore-Russell (c. 1989) is an African American chef and restaurateur. She became the first black woman to be awarded a Michelin star in September 2019 while working as a chef at Kumiko and Kikkō.

Biography Mariya Moore-Russell grew up in Springfield, Ohio with her parents and four sisters. After high school, she moved to Chicago and studied at The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago where she graduated in 2008.

Career While in Chicago, Mariya Russell worked at Uncommon Ground, Green Zebra, The Bristol, Nellcote, and Senza.

In September 2019, while working at Kumiko and Kikkō that she was awarded a Michelin star, shortly before her 30th birthday. Shortly after receiving the accolade, Russell announced on Instagram that she was taking a break to prioritize her well-being; “I wasn't really able to take care of myself on a day-to-day basis; the job was all I was able to fit into my life at the time...I just wanted to do more for myself and better for myself.”

Chef Mariya decided to pivot her career in the direction of entrepreneurship. She moved to Hawaii in August 2020. Upon returning to the mainland, Russell has focused on running pop-ups and chef collaborations.