Food Network all-star and celebrity super chef Giada De Laurentiis stepped out of the kitchen and onto the runway yesterday. The Italian born, Southern California raised De Laurentiis, has never done any professional modelling, but that didn’t stop the brunette beauty from taking center stage during New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center wearing a gorgeous red gown as part of the Go Red for Women Event.

E! News caught up with the amateur model to ask about what it was like to strut down the catwalk. “I’m super excited; I’ve never done this before. I used to think being a model and walking the runway was an easy job, but I have changed my mind. I have so much respect for those women because it’s a tough job!”

De Laurentiis was part of the Heart Truth Dress Collection show. The chef was all decked out in a red Carolina Herrera gown.

Giada De Laurentiis In Carolina Herrera – Go Red For Women 2014 Red DRess Collection @GDeLaurentiis @HouseofHerrera pic.twitter.com/DAWqoUxx3L

— FashionLover (@MyFashBlog) February 7, 2014

Giada was joined by Anna Sophia Robb, Lindsey Vonn (in crutches), Ireland Baldwin and Joan Jett among other celebrities in wearing red in tribute to the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day. Go Red For Women is a social initiative to raise awareness for the issues surrounding women and heart disease. The main problem, of course, being that people usually think of men when they think of heart disease. However, Cardiovascular disease kills almost 500,000 American females every year.

De Laurentiis is known for both her healthy and hearty recipes on the Food Network. Prior to hitting the runway, she loaded up on a bunch of heart-healthy food. She told Fox News, “Before I came here I had a banana, walnut, almond milkshake, and for breakfast I had oatmeal with olive oil.”

New York Fashion Week runs February 6 – 13.

Image via Facebook