Ukrainian chef Olia Hercules was included in Vogue’s list of most influential women of 2022
Ukrainian chef entered the top most influential women of the year, according to Vogue UK. Olia Hercules is a well-known cookbook author and food stylist who was born in Kakhovka, Kherson region, and currently lives in London. With the outbreak of full-scale war, Olha co-founded the Cook For Ukraine charity initiative.
“It’s reinforced my faith in humanity,” says chef Olia Hercules of the “staggering response” to Cook for Ukraine, the now global initiative she co-founded in February 2022, to help gather funds for those affected by the war. Thanks to restaurants and supper clubs, home cooks, and school bake sales, close to £1 million has so far been raised for UNICEF, as has invaluable awareness of the plight of her home country, all through its culinary culture, Vogue reports.
For Hercules, the experience of campaigning has altered her forever. “Even when Ukraine is free, I’m not going to stop my activism,” she says to Vogue. “I’m a changed person.”
