TWENTY ASPIRING RESTAURATEURS BRAVE THE HEAT OF "HELL'S KITCHEN" ON THE SEASON 12 PREMIERE AIRING THURSDAY, MARCH 13, ON FOX

Host, executive producer and award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay welcomes 20 new competitors on the Season 12 premiere of HELL'S KITCHEN airing Thursday, March 13 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. These aspiring restaurateurs will endure an intense culinary academy, including a series of grueling team challenges and dinner services to prove they possess the right combination of ingredients to win Season 12.

In the premiere episode, Chef Ramsay offers the newest batch of contestants a never-before-seen welcome: the first-ever flash mob in HELL'S KITCHEN history. Then, after splitting the chefs into two teams - men (blue) vs. women (red) - Ramsay asks them to present their signature dishes in another battle of the sexes, but this time they will be cooking in front of a live audience!

Throughout the season, the contestants must prove their ability to work in teams, before Chef Ramsay determines which chefs are worthy of a black jacket. The rewards for the winners include a luxurious spa day, a surprise trip to Las Vegas and an extravagant shopping spree, while the punishments include churning ice cream, cleaning the dorms and separating trash and recyclables. As the competition progresses, the number of contestants will be narrowed down until only two chefs are left to compete for the ultimate prize: a Head Chef position at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant with a salary of a quarter of a million dollars, and the opportunity to fulfill his/her dreams of working in the culinary industry as the winner of HELL'S KITCHEN.

Below are the 20 chefs competing on this season of HELL'S KITCHEN:

The Red Team (Women) includes:

Beth Taylor Age: 43
Hometown: Independence, LA
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Pecan Crusted Catfish with Wilted Spinach and Smoked Gouda Grits

Bev Lazo-Gonzalez Age: 42
Hometown: Whittier, CA
Occupation: Food Truck Chef
Signature Dish: Southeast Asian-Style Fish Tacos

Jessica Vogel Age: 28
Hometown: Sparta, NJ
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Rosemary Crusted Venison Loin with Cranberry Ancho Chili Gastrique over Goat Cheese Polenta and Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Joy Parham-Thomas Age: 25
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Kitchen Supervisor
Signature Dish: Chilled Corn Soup

Kashia Zollicoffer Age: 23
Hometown: Carthage, MS
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: New York Strip and Blue Cheese Crab Butter with Roasted Asparagus

Melanie Finch Age: 23
Hometown: Woodland Hills, CA
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Scallops with Mashed Lentils, Roasted Pear and Crispy Raspberry Gastrique

Nicole Rutz Age: 33
Hometown: Morganville, NJ
Occupation: Baker
Signature Dish: Halibut Filet with Squash and Tomatoes in an Herb Butter Sauce

Rochelle Bergman Age: 27
Hometown: Riverside, CA
Occupation: Caterer
Signature Dish: Mushroom Chicken with Asparagus

Sandra Flores Age: 36
Hometown: Queens, NY
Occupation: Sous Chef
Signature Dish: Tender Cod Filet with Macadamia Nut Fig Butter and Fire-Roasted Corn with Applewood Bacon

Simone Hammond Age: 43
Hometown: Henderson, NV
Occupation: Buffet Cook
Signature Dish: Peach and Crab Apple Chutney Pork Chop, Cornbread Dressing with Pecans and Haricot Verts with Fig and Cranberries in a White Wine Butter Sauce

The Blue Team (Men) includes:

Anton Testino Age: 39
Hometown: Butler, NJ
Occupation: Head Chef
Signature Dish: Pork with Crabmeat Crust

Chris Eversole Age: 27
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Poule R�tie

Guarav Navin Age: 34
Hometown: East Stroudsburg, PA
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Afreen Tuna Met Komyn Parfume Pulao

Jason Zepaltas Age: 31
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Sous Chef
Signature Dish: Seared, then Braised Wild Salmon with Vegetables

Mike Aresta Age: 38
Hometown: Keyport, NJ
Occupation: Chef Instructor
Signature Dish: Herb-Fried Tortellini with Romesco

Michael DeMarco Age: 29
Hometown: Scranton, PA
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Tomato Cr�me and Sausage

Michael Gabriel Age: 25
Hometown: Spring, TX
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Stuffed Chicken Breast with Asparagus and Diced Rosemary Yukon Potatoes

Ralph Johnson Age: 28
Hometown: Boston, MA
Occupation: Chef De Partie
Signature Dish: New England Lobster Dinner

Richard Mancini Age: 48
Hometown: Bloomingdale, IL
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Pan-Roasted Sea Bass with Roma Tomato and Basil Sauce over Sauteed Kale and Pancetta

Scott Commings Age: 36
Hometown: Woodstock, IL
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Herb Roasted Rack of lamb with Parsnip Puree and Sherry Jus

HELL'S KITCHEN is produced by ITV Studios America in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions. Arthur Smith, Kent Weed and Gordon Ramsay serve as executive producers. "Like" HELL'S KITCHEN on Facebook at facebook.com/hellskitchen. Follow the series on Twitter at @hellskitchenfox, and follow Ramsay at @GordonRamsay.