Hot Dog Eating-Contest Loser From Astoria Hopes For Comeback

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Prudence DiBenedetto is hoping that the third time’s the charm for her at this weekend's infamous hot dog-eating contest at Coney Island.

The born-and-raise Astorian, and two-time contestant at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest, came in last place during both of her previous trials, but she’s determined to change that on Sunday during the first contest since the pandemic.

“I think there are 15 women competing, so I’d like to come in between 12th and 14th place,” DiBenedetto told Patch, adding that the greatest number of hot dog’s she’s eaten in the contest’s 10 minute time span is seven, but she’s “hoping to push that to eight or nine, and hopefully not come in last place.”

DiBenedetto has been on a long term food-eating contest losing streak dating back to college, when the 34-year-old entered, and lost, a pie-eating contest.

In the years since then she’s had her two last-place finishes at Coney Island, and also came in last at a pepperoni roll-eating contest in West Virginia and a bratwurst-eating contest in Utah.

For DiBenedetto, who manages a pizza review Instagram for fun, food-eating contests combine her love of food with her love of the stage.

“I was actually at Coney Island when Deno's Wonder Wheel opened, and at the time they had the big countdown clock set up for the hot dog-eating contest. I thought it would be so cool to stand under there and eat some hot dogs,” she said.

After qualifying for the 2013 and 2018 contests, DiBenedetto hoped to take to the stage again — and beat her four hot dog finish — in 2020, but then the pandemic hit, and the event was cancelled.

“This year they reached out to me to ask if I would do it again,” said DiBenedetto, who was happy to participate — and is taking the invitation seriously.

“I’ve already been practicing by eating hot dogs,” she said, explaining that she did a trial run a couple of weeks ago on her way to work. “I just stopped at a vending cart, bought a bunch of hot dogs, and shoveled them in my mouth as I was waiting for the light. Once I got to my job I just stood outside and ate the last three or four,” she said.

While DiBenedetto doesn’t think she’ll come anywhere near reigning champion Miki Sudo’s nearly 50-dog mark, Sudo won’t be the one to beat, since the competitive eater is expecting her first child and is sitting out this year’s contest.

And Sudo’s absence isn’t the only atypical part of this year’s hot dog-eating contest, which is being held at Maimonides Park instead of its usual location near the flagship Nathan’s storefront.

“It is encouraging to hold this event live for fans, who last year were unable to celebrate July 4 as they traditionally do,” said Nathan’s senior vice president of restaurants, James Walker, who hopes the contest will return to the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues next year.

DiBenedetto also feels responsible for ensuring that people enjoy the event and that she does her best, especially since she’s one of a handful of New Yorkers participating in the contest.

“I want to feel like at least I tried and didn’t come in last,” she said. “But I’m just going to have fun. If I happen to come in last, I’ll wear it with pride.”