Miki Sudo wins Nathan’s Hot Dog Eat Contest after a break

The Queen rules!

Miki Sudo won her eighth Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest in nine years on Monday, returning to the front of the dog pack after sitting out last year’s contest.

The 36-year-old, who sat out the 2021 Hot Dog Eating Contest because she was pregnant, threw down 40 dogs and buns – and beat the next competition by 14.

Sudo led throughout the competition, crossing the 10-dog threshold after 40 minutes.

2021 winner Michelle Lesco took second place on Monday, finishing second behind her friend and former roommate for the fourth time.

Sudo, a native of New York City, first competed in the annual Fourth of July tradition in 2014 and has never lost.

She has been the top-ranked competitive eater in Major League Eating since 2014.

Just a few days after last year’s competition, she gave birth to her son Max.

On Monday, her husband and fellow eater Nick Wehry pushed the 1-year-old over his head to cheer him on from the crowd as his wife accepted the mustard yellow champion belt of the competition.

“I didn’t realize how difficult it could be to compete after having a baby,” Sudo said in a pre-taped interview shown on ESPN before the game. “Max is the best thing that has ever happened to me and Nathans is second.”