Who Is Tineke Younger?
Tineke Younger, popularly known as Tini Younger or Chef Tini, is an American chef, cookbook author and social media personality. She became famous for her easy-to-follow cooking videos, especially her viral macaroni and cheese recipe, which attracted more than 100 million views on TikTok.
Tini developed her cooking skills through professional culinary education and restaurant experience. She first gained wider recognition in 2023 when she appeared on Gordon Ramsay’s cooking competition Next Level Chef. Her friendly personality and practical cooking knowledge helped her become a fan favourite.
Her online popularity grew further after she shared her famous mac and cheese recipe. The video introduced millions of viewers to her cooking style and helped turn her into one of the best-known food creators on TikTok.
Tini has also published cookbooks, developed cooking products and hosted her own online cooking series. Her major cookbook, Today We Are Cooking: Recipes That Teach You to Think Like a Chef, was released in November 2026.
Away from her career, Tini is married to Antoine Wright Jr. The couple experienced a heartbreaking loss in November 2025 when one of their twin daughters, Arya, died following a pregnancy complication. Their surviving daughter continues to be an important part of their family.
Tineke Younger Quick Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tineke Younger |
| Popular Name | Tini Younger |
| Nickname | Chef Tini |
| Date of Birth | September 2, 2001 (reported) |
| Age | 25 years (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Frederick, Maryland, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Chef, Cookbook Author and Content Creator |
| Education | Frederick Community College |
| Qualification | Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts |
| Famous For | Viral mac and cheese recipe |
| Television Show | Next Level Chef |
| Husband | Antoine Wright Jr. |
| Wedding Date | November 15, 2024 |
| Children | Twin daughters; one daughter, Arya, died in November 2025 |
| Residence | Georgia, USA |
| Main Social Platform | TikTok |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
Tineke Younger Early Life
Tineke Younger was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland, United States. She grew up in a family that supported her interests, although she did not initially know that cooking would become her profession.
As a student, Tini struggled with traditional classroom learning. She has spoken about having difficulty sitting still, concentrating and following the usual school routine. Her grades were not always strong, and she sometimes got into trouble at school.
Things began to change when she discovered culinary education.
During her sophomore year of high school, she visited a culinary class and became interested in the practical nature of cooking. As a junior in 2018, she enrolled in a culinary course at a local career and technical education centre.
The kitchen environment suited her better than a traditional classroom. She enjoyed working with ingredients, learning techniques and preparing food rather than sitting at a desk for long periods.
Cooking gave her a sense of direction. She began taking her education more seriously and realised that food could become a professional career.
Her early experiences also helped her develop a teaching style that would later become popular online. She understood that people learn differently and wanted to explain cooking in simple steps.
Tineke Younger Education
Tini completed her high school education in 2020. She had already started learning culinary skills through a career and technical education programme during high school.
After graduation, she continued her studies at Frederick Community College in Maryland.
She enrolled in the Hospitality, Culinary and Tourism Institute, where she received professional training in food preparation, cooking techniques and kitchen operations.
She earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts in May 2022.
Her education included practical experience in preparing different types of food and understanding professional kitchen standards.
Tini also gained experience working in restaurants while studying. She began working as a prep chef at around 18 and later worked as a line cook at 19.
These experiences helped her understand the demands of professional kitchens. She has spoken about being one of the few women in some kitchen environments and learning to speak up for herself.
Her formal culinary education became an important part of her online success. She often explains why particular ingredients or cooking techniques are used instead of simply showing viewers what to add.
Tineke Younger Family
Tini Younger grew up in Frederick, Maryland, with her parents and siblings. She has spoken about how her family supported her during the early stages of her career.
Her parents allowed her boyfriend, Antoine Wright Jr., to live with them during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic when the couple were facing financial difficulties.
Tini has described Antoine as a member of the family for several years. Her parents reportedly considered him another son even before the couple married.
She has not shared extensive information about her parents’ names or the identities of all her siblings. She generally keeps those details private.
Her husband and daughters are the family members she has discussed most publicly.
| Family Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Name and profession not publicly confirmed |
| Mother | Name and profession not publicly confirmed |
| Siblings | Has mentioned siblings; detailed public information is limited |
| Husband | Antoine Wright Jr. |
| Daughter | Arya, who died in November 2025 |
| Surviving Daughter | Name kept private; referred to publicly as Baby L |
Tineke Younger Career Journey
Starting Her Culinary Career
Tini’s professional journey began with her culinary education and restaurant work.
She started working as a prep chef at around 18. A prep chef prepares ingredients and completes tasks that help the kitchen operate efficiently.
At 19, she began working as a line cook. This role involved preparing dishes during restaurant service and working under the pressure of a busy kitchen.
These jobs helped her gain practical experience beyond the classroom.
Tini originally imagined becoming an executive chef in a restaurant. She liked the idea of creating menus and preparing food for customers.
However, her career eventually developed in a different direction through social media.
Her First Viral Cooking Videos
In 2021, Tini started posting videos of herself preparing meals for her boyfriend, Antoine.
One of her earliest cooking videos showed her making steak and macaroni and cheese for him. She uploaded the video to TikTok, where it received more than 14 million views.
She was surprised by the response. At the time, she had only around 1,800 followers.
She continued posting cooking videos. Her fried chicken sandwich video attracted around 25 million views, while another video featuring chicken Alfredo also received millions of views.
These early successes encouraged her to film more recipes and share what she was learning in culinary school.
Her content gradually developed into a cooking education platform. She began explaining measurements, techniques and ingredient choices in a way that home cooks could follow.
Next Level Chef
A major career opportunity came in 2022 when Tini received an invitation to audition for the second season of Next Level Chef.
The competition was hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and featured professional chefs, home cooks and social media food creators.
Tini had initially been preparing to join a culinary programme at Walt Disney World. However, the casting opportunity changed her plans.
She competed on the second season, which aired in 2023. She was part of Richard Blais’s team and became one of the popular contestants.
Tini reached the top eight among the 18 contestants before being eliminated in the 11th episode.
One of her proudest moments was preparing a dish featuring cow tongue. She had never cooked the ingredient before, but her dish earned recognition during the competition.
Her appearance helped introduce her to a much larger audience and established her as a trained chef rather than simply a social media cooking personality.
The Viral Mac and Cheese Recipe
Tini’s biggest breakthrough came in November 2023 when she posted her macaroni and cheese recipe.
The video became an internet sensation and attracted more than 100 million views.
Her recipe uses a combination of cheeses, cream, Dijon mustard and cavatappi pasta. The corkscrew-shaped pasta works well with the thick cheese sauce because the creamy mixture gets inside its hollow centre.
Tini has explained that she spent years improving the recipe. She regularly prepared mac and cheese for Antoine, who gave her feedback until she was satisfied with the result.
The video became so popular that many people struggled to find cavatappi pasta in stores. Its popularity even attracted attention from news outlets.
The success of the recipe helped Tini build a loyal audience of home cooks who wanted to learn from her.
From Scratch with Tini
After her appearance on Next Level Chef, Tini expanded her work into other cooking projects.
She hosted From Scratch with Tini on Gordon Ramsay’s Bite Originals platform.
The series focused on cooking techniques and recipes that viewers could prepare at home. It gave her another opportunity to demonstrate her knowledge and encourage people to become more confident in the kitchen.
Cookbook Career
Tini published her first cookbook, Cooking for My Boyfriend, independently in 2023.
The book reflected the early stage of her online cooking journey and featured recipes inspired by the meals she prepared for Antoine.
Her next major cookbook was Today We Are Cooking: Recipes That Teach You to Think Like a Chef, released on November 3, 2026, by Clarkson Potter.
The book contains more than 100 recipes and explains basic cooking skills, techniques and ingredients. It is designed to help readers understand how cooking works rather than simply follow instructions.
The book also includes practical lessons such as boiling water, preparing vegetables, cooking rice and searing steak.
Tini wanted it to feel personal and welcoming, similar to the cooking videos that made her famous.
Brand Partnerships and Business Projects
As her audience grew, Tini began working with major food, lifestyle and kitchen brands.
Her commercial work has included partnerships with Uber Eats, Olipop and Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
She also worked with Hedley & Bennett to develop cooking-related products, including an apron and chef’s knife.
These projects have helped her build a business around her culinary knowledge and online audience.
Tineke Younger Major Work and Achievements
Some of Tini Younger’s major professional achievements include:
- Culinary Education: Earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts from Frederick Community College in 2022.
- Restaurant Experience: Worked as a prep chef and line cook before becoming a full-time creator.
- Next Level Chef: Competed in Season 2 of Gordon Ramsay’s cooking competition in 2023.
- Top Eight Finish: Reached the top eight contestants on Next Level Chef.
- Viral Mac and Cheese: Created a recipe video that attracted more than 100 million views.
- Cooking for My Boyfriend: Published her first cookbook independently in 2023.
- From Scratch with Tini: Hosted a cooking series on Gordon Ramsay’s Bite Originals platform.
- Brand Collaborations: Worked with food and lifestyle brands, including Uber Eats and Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
- Kitchen Products: Collaborated with Hedley & Bennett on cooking products.
- Forbes Top Creators: Featured in Forbes’ 2026 Top Creators list.
- TIME100 Creators: Named among TIME’s 100 most influential creators of 2026.
- Today We Are Cooking: Released her major cookbook in November 2026.
Tineke Younger Relationships and Marriage
Tini Younger is married to Antoine Wright Jr., who was her boyfriend before she became famous.
The couple first met in March 2019 in Frederick, Maryland, through mutual friends at a McDonald’s restaurant.
They began dating in November 2019. Antoine became an important part of Tini’s life and supported her during the early stages of her culinary career.
He also appeared in many of her first cooking videos. Tini would prepare meals for him and ask him to rate the food.
Their videos became popular because viewers enjoyed watching the couple interact. Antoine also became her regular taste-tester.
The couple married on November 15, 2024. After the wedding, Tini’s cooking content increasingly used the name Cooking for My Husband.
Their relationship has remained a visible part of her story, although they keep many private details away from social media.
Their Twin Daughters
In June 2025, Tini and Antoine announced that they were expecting twins. They later revealed that they were having two girls.
The pregnancy was an important moment for the couple, who shared parts of their experience with their followers.
However, in November 2025, Tini announced that one of the twins, Arya, had died following a placental abruption when she was nearly 36 weeks pregnant.
The couple’s other daughter survived. Tini has referred to her publicly as Baby L, while keeping her name private.
Tini later shared that she wanted Arya to remain part of the family’s story and that her surviving daughter would grow up knowing about her twin sister.
She also honoured Arya with a tattoo featuring her name and footprint.
The experience was deeply personal, and Tini took time away from social media while recovering physically and emotionally.
Tineke Younger Lifestyle and Personal Life
Tini Younger lives in Georgia with her husband, Antoine, their surviving daughter and their dog.
Her home and kitchen have become important parts of her online identity. She has spoken about wanting a kitchen with green cabinets and eventually being able to build that space through her work.
After years of financial challenges, she earned enough through content creation to buy a home outside Augusta, Georgia.
She enjoys preparing comfort food and teaching people how to cook familiar dishes. Her videos often focus on recipes that viewers can make without expensive equipment.
Tini has also discussed her experience with food insecurity. She has explained that she understands the importance of food assistance because her family relied on food pantries at certain points in her life.
One of her future ambitions is to open a soup kitchen that serves high-quality, restaurant-style meals to people who need support.
She also wants to encourage women to consider cooking as a professional career. Her own journey from culinary student to successful food creator is an example of how cooking skills can lead to different opportunities.
Tineke Younger Social Media Accounts
Tini Younger built her career through cooking videos and continues to use social media to share recipes, kitchen advice and personal updates.
Her content is especially popular among people who want simple instructions and practical cooking tips.
| Platform | Account |
|---|---|
| TikTok | @tinekeyounger |
| @tiniyounger | |
| YouTube | @channel/UCpWClNO_CuOVClRVJjj9i2Q |
| Cooking Series | @tineke.younger.3 |
| Cookbook | Today We Are Cooking |
Follower numbers change regularly, so current statistics should be checked on her official profiles before publication.
Tineke Younger Net Worth
Tini Younger earns income through several professional activities. Her main sources include social media content, sponsored videos, brand partnerships, cookbook sales and cooking-related products.
Her viral recipes have helped her attract a large audience, making her an attractive partner for food and lifestyle brands.
She has worked with companies such as Uber Eats, Olipop and Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Her collaboration with Hedley & Bennett also expanded her work into kitchen products.
Forbes included Tini in its 2026 Top Creators list and estimated her annual creator earnings at approximately $3 million.
This figure represents estimated annual earnings for the list. It is not a verified calculation of her total net worth.
Tini has not publicly disclosed her complete financial details, so her exact net worth remains unknown.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Net Worth | Not officially disclosed |
| Forbes 2026 Creator Earnings | Approximately $3 million |
| Main Income Sources | Social media and content creation |
| Other Income | Cookbooks and brand partnerships |
| Brand Collaborations | Uber Eats, Olipop and Philadelphia Cream Cheese |
| Product Collaborations | Hedley & Bennett |
| Television | Next Level Chef and cooking programmes |
| Financial Disclosure | No verified personal net-worth figure |
Tineke Younger Physical Appearance
Tini Younger is recognised for her friendly on-camera personality, blonde hair and approachable presentation style.
Her cooking videos generally feature casual outfits and a practical kitchen environment. She often focuses on the food and preparation process rather than elaborate production.
Her exact height, weight and body measurements are not consistently confirmed through reliable public sources.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Weight | Not publicly confirmed |
| Eye Colour | Not reliably confirmed |
| Hair Colour | Blonde |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Chef and Content Creator |
| Style | Casual and kitchen-friendly |
| Distinctive Feature | Friendly personality and cooking tutorials |
Interesting Facts About Tineke Younger
- Her full name is Tineke Younger.
- She is popularly known as Tini Younger or Chef Tini.
- She grew up in Frederick, Maryland.
- She discovered her interest in cooking during high school.
- She began culinary training in 2018.
- She earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts in 2022.
- She worked as a prep chef at 18 and a line cook at 19.
- Her first cooking videos featured meals she prepared for her boyfriend.
- One of her first TikTok cooking videos received more than 14 million views.
- Her famous mac and cheese recipe took years to perfect.
- Her recipe helped make cavatappi pasta popular among home cooks.
- She competed on Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef in 2023.
- She reached the top eight contestants on the show.
- Her first cookbook was titled Cooking for My Boyfriend.
- She married Antoine Wright Jr. in November 2024.
- She has collaborated with major food and lifestyle brands.
- Forbes estimated her 2026 creator earnings at around $3 million.
- She hopes to open a soup kitchen in the future.
- Her 2026 cookbook is dedicated in part to the memory of her daughter Arya.
- She wants to teach people that cooking can be learned even without expensive equipment or professional kitchen experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Tineke Younger
Q1. Who is Tineke Younger?
Tineke Younger, popularly known as Tini Younger or Chef Tini, is an American chef, cookbook author and social media personality. She is famous for her viral mac and cheese recipe and her appearance on Next Level Chef.
Q2. How old is Tini Younger?
Tini Younger was born on September 2, 2001, according to widely reported biographical information. She is 25 years old as of November 2026.
Q3. Who is Tini Younger’s husband?
Tini Younger is married to Antoine Wright Jr. The couple began dating in November 2019 and married on November 15, 2024.
Q4. Does Tini Younger have children?
Yes. Tini and Antoine welcomed twin daughters. Sadly, one daughter, Arya, died in November 2025 following a placental abruption. Their surviving daughter is kept largely out of the public spotlight.
Q5. What is Tini Younger famous for?
She is famous for her viral macaroni and cheese recipe, which attracted more than 100 million views on TikTok. She is also known for competing on Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef.
Q6. Where did Tini Younger study?
She studied at Frederick Community College in Maryland and earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts in May 2022.
Q7. What cookbooks has Tini Younger published?
Her cookbooks include Cooking for My Boyfriend, published independently in 2023, and Today We Are Cooking: Recipes That Teach You to Think Like a Chef, released on November 3, 2026.
Q8. What is Tini Younger’s net worth?
Her exact net worth has not been publicly confirmed. Forbes estimated her annual creator earnings at approximately $3 million in its 2026 Top Creators list, but this is not the same as her total net worth.
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