Camille O’Brien of Jeffersonville Heads to Coney Island for Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Jeffersonville’s Camille O’Brien is heading to Brooklyn this July 4 to compete in one of America’s most iconic eating competitions — the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.“I can’t even believe it,” said O’Brien. “I actually signed a contract yesterday with Major League Eating, so technically I’m a professional eater now.”She secured her spot by winning a qualifying event at Hershey Park, where she ate 8.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes, narrowly edging out her competitors. “Second place ate eight, and third place ate seven and a half, but only the winner gets a seat at the big show,” she explained.This will be O’Brien’s first time competing in a hot dog eating contest at this level, though she’s no stranger to the world of competitive eating. “I’ve been in other eating contests, but funny enough, my whole family is from South Brooklyn. One of my earliest memories is being at Nathan’s on Coney Island in the summer and eating French fries with the little red fork they used to have.”Preparation for the contest has been intense. “I’ve been eating a lot of watermelon to create more space in my stomach,” she said, adding that she’s also practiced with members of her local fire department nearby in case of choking — a real risk in the world of speed eating. “Hot dogs are one of the things people choke on the most… so I did have a practice the week before.”O’Brien is also planning to use her moment in the spotlight to promote a cause close to her heart: volunteer firefighting. “I’m hoping to wear some of my fire department bunker gear and promote volunteer firefighting.”For O’Brien, this contest is more than a competitive milestone — it’s deeply personal. “It means, I think, way more than a lot of people know to me. Having lost both my parents, it’s such a throwback to my family and the memories I have there.”She knows the event will be physically demanding — “the energy it takes from your whole body to digest that much food” is no joke — but for O’Brien, it’s worth it. “I never thought this was the way I was going to get on ESPN. But here we go.”