Georgia Chef Named One of TIME's Most Influential People of 2026

Mashama Bailey, co-founder and executive chef of Savannah's Grey Spaces, honored in the innovators category of the prestigious list.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:08pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a luxurious, textured fabric in rich, jewel-toned colors, shot in dramatic high-contrast studio lighting to evoke a sense of culinary glamour and sophistication.The vibrant textures and bold colors of the culinary world are celebrated in this conceptual image honoring chef Mashama Bailey's prestigious TIME100 recognition.Atlanta Today

Award-winning chef and restaurateur Mashama Bailey, the co-founder and executive chef of the Grey Spaces brand, has been named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2026. Bailey, who is the executive chef and co-founder of the critically acclaimed Savannah restaurant The Grey, was featured in the innovators category of the prestigious annual list.

Why it matters

Mashama Bailey's inclusion on the TIME100 list highlights the growing influence and recognition of Black chefs and restaurateurs in the culinary industry. As the first African American chef to be featured on Netflix's Chef's Table, Bailey has been a trailblazer, using her platform to showcase Southern cuisine and celebrate the contributions of Black culinary professionals.

The details

In addition to her work at The Grey, Bailey and her business partner Johno Morisano opened a new restaurant called L'Arret by The Grey in Paris in 2025. Bailey has won two prestigious James Beard awards over the course of her career. Her TIME100 essay was written by former Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Bailey met while Harris was campaigning in Savannah.

  • Mashama Bailey was named to the TIME100 list of Most Influential People of 2026, which was released on April 17, 2026.
  • In 2019, Bailey became the first African American chef to be featured on the Netflix series Chef's Table.
  • Bailey and her business partner Johno Morisano opened a new restaurant called L'Arret by The Grey in Paris in 2025.

The players

Mashama Bailey

An award-winning chef and restaurateur who is the co-founder and executive chef of the Grey Spaces brand, including the critically acclaimed restaurant The Grey in Savannah, Georgia.

Johno Morisano

Mashama Bailey's business partner and the co-founder of the Grey Spaces brand.

Kamala Harris

The former Vice President of the United States, who wrote the TIME100 essay about Mashama Bailey.

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What they’re saying

“There are not many words that can express how I feel about this incredible honor. First, I want to say thank you to Time Magazine, I am truly humbled! Thanks to my business partner, Johno Morisano, along with our team, whose drive towards excellence never waivers.”

— Mashama Bailey, Co-founder and Executive Chef, Grey Spaces

“All of us at Grey Spaces have seen in Mashama, for more than a dozen years, what Time has acknowledged by including her on their list of the Most Influential People of 2026. Mashama leads with humility, grace and dignity, and that is the true secret sauce to building cultural bridges far and wide.”

— Johno Morisano, Co-founder, Grey Spaces

What’s next

In the coming months, Mashama Bailey and the Grey Spaces team are expected to continue expanding their culinary empire, with plans to open additional restaurant locations in the United States and potentially abroad.

The takeaway

Mashama Bailey's inclusion on the prestigious TIME100 list is a testament to her culinary excellence, innovative approach, and ability to use her platform to celebrate and elevate the contributions of Black chefs and the Southern culinary tradition. Her continued success and recognition further solidifies the growing influence of diverse voices in the food industry.