At least there should be some excitement in the women’s division of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on Sunday. While Joey Chestnut remains an overwhelming favorite in the men’s division, a new women’s champion will be crowned. Miki Sudo, the women’s winner for the last seven years, is sitting this one out, and for good reason.

Miki Sudo has won Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest every year since 2014

In 2014, Sudo burst onto the hot dog scene by defeating Sonya ‘The Black Widow’ Thomas by downing 34 hot dogs and she’s been a household name in the event ever since. A year ago, she set a new women’s record by eating 48.5 dogs (with bun). No female has more Nathan’s titles than Sudo.

Lasts year’s mark of 48.5 blew away her previous best in the competition when she ate 41 back in 2017. She’s one of the few high-profiled eaters who doesn’t have a nickname. She doesn’t want one, but in a Twitter post in 2015, she revealed what it would be if she had one. she said she would choose “HOTdogTOPdog.”

While Chestnut gets all the attention when it comes to eating hot dogs, Sudo actually has the longer win streak. In 2015, Matt Stonie pulled the upset, downing 62 hots dogs and defeating Chestnut by two. Chestnut has won ever since and is shooting for his sixth straight Mustard Belt. Chestnut has won 13 of the last 14 events.

Miki Sudo won’t be participating Sunday, but she’ll be there

Sudo is due to give birth at the end of the month and is not entered in this year’s contest. She will, however, be in the ESPN booth doing some commentary alongside Mike Golic Jr., who will do the play-by-play. Golic will be joined by Major League Eating’s Richard Shea and ESPN’s Jason Fitz. Sudo will join Golic and Shea for the women’s competition.

She doesn’t have any media experience, but she’s anxious to provide some insight as a seven-time champ. “It’s my first go,” she told Sportscasting of her media gig. “I just want to do the women’s contest justice.”

Sudo said she’d love to be taking part this year but will be ready to go next year.

“It’s been a huge part of my life,” she said. “This would’ve been my eighth year. It’s frustrating I can’t get out there, but I’m so excited to know I’ll be getting back into it next year.”

Miki Sudo

Sudo will also be there to cheer on her fiance Nick Wehry, who’s participating in the men’s division

While Sudo will be analyzing the women’s competition, she’ll also be paying close attention to the men’s event. Her fiance, Nick Wehry, is one of the competitors trying to dethrone Chestnut. Wehry is ranked sixth in the world, according to Major League Eating. Sudo is ranked fifth overall but is the No. 1 woman.

A year ago, Wehry finished third in the men’s division after eating a Nathan’s personal best 39.5 hot dogs. Chestnut won the event with a world-record 75. While Sudo won’t be cheering inside the booth when the women are competing, she will certainly be rooting for Wehry.

The two met in 2018 at a hotel gym while they were both there preparing for the contest. “Nathan’s brought us together,” Sudo said. “I’ll definitely be there cheering him on.”