‘Lady Jaguar’ Janaína Torres, World’s Best Female Chef, to Christen Celebrity Xcel
Celebrity Cruises has named Brazilian culinary star Janaína Torres, known as Dona Onça (“Lady Jaguar”), as Godmother of its newest ship, Celebrity Xcel. She is the first Brazilian chef to hold the role for a major cruise line. Torres will officially christen the ship on November 16 in Fort Lauderdale.
Celebrity says Torres reflects its focus on authenticity and cultural storytelling. Her influence will be showcased aboard Celebrity Xcel in The Bazaar, a new venue where food, entertainment, and culture come together to deepen guests’ connections with destinations.
“Food brings us together, connecting us through new flavors, traditions, and shared memories,” Torres said. “I’m proud to partner with Celebrity Cruises to showcase our culture and cuisine on a global stage.”
Her nickname, Dona Onça, comes from the jaguar-spot tattoos she wears proudly. It has become a symbol of her fierce, intuitive approach to food and leadership.
“Jaguars are observant; they wait for the right moment before they pounce, and that’s how I am in business,” adds Torres.
Culinary Vision Meets Social Impact
Torres has been widely recognized for her social impact. She helped transform São Paulo’s school meals program, improving nutrition for nearly two million children. The initiative reduced processed ingredients and prioritized fresh, local produce. During the pandemic, she also led efforts to feed vulnerable communities across the city.
“I was born in tenement housing, where everything is shared. At 12, I was selling street food from a cart. Later, I fell in love with wine and entered the world of food.” And in 2008, she opened her first restaurant, O Bar da Dona Onça, focusing on home-style pressure cooking.
“Then I started to see the world.”
Torres was named World’s Best Female Chef 2024 by The World’s 50 Best, an award program organized by William Reed Business Media. She is co-owner of São Paulo’s acclaimed A Casa do Porco, consistently ranked among the world’s top restaurants.
She joins a lineage of barrier-breaking Celebrity godmothers. Past honorees include Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and Olympic champion Simone Biles.
Following the christening, Celebrity Xcel will begin a season of seven-night Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale. In summer 2026, the ship will reposition to Europe for itineraries out of Barcelona and Athens. The program will include new overnight stays in Madeira.
