Key West marked Independence Day weekend by diving face-first into its signature dessert.
Summerland Key resident Kevin "The Key Lime Forkless Wonder" Renly took home the ultimate crown on Saturday, winning the 14th annual Key Lime Pie Eating Championship at the Southernmost Beach Café.
Renly, a former San Diego resident who now operates Southernmost Bees in the Florida Keys, secured the victory on his third attempt at the title, devouring a full 9-inch pie in less than a minute (59.60 seconds to be exact).
Faced with a high-stakes, hands-free challenge, Renly relied on a highly specific technique to defeat 24 other competitors.
"My advice is to dive right in," Renly said of his winning strategy. "Eliminate the whipped cream. Mix up the crumb with the pie and start sipping it up."
The rules of the competitive eating event are notoriously strict: no hands and no utensils are allowed, though competitors are permitted to wear goggles to protect their eyes from flying whipped cream.
READ MORE: Key West’s annual Key Lime Pie Eating Championship returns for Fourth of July
The annual event serves as the centerpiece of the five-day Key Lime Festival, celebrating a dessert that has been Florida’s official state pie since 2006. Organizers emphasize that the competition is deeply rooted in local culture.
"Key lime pie was originated in Key West," said Liz Love, the event’s co-manager. "And so, every year we pay homage to our ancestors by shoving our faces in 9-inch Key lime pies to see who can eat them the fastest."
In addition to crowning a new champion, Love noted that the cold dessert provided a welcome relief from the soaring summer temperatures gripping much of the country.
"So, this heat wave on the East Coast. We have figured it out," Love said. "Down here in Key West, we just slam our faces into cold Key lime pies. It's very refreshing. And it's so good for the complexion."
While Renly's sub-minute performance was enough to secure the 2026 title, the all-time tournament record remains unbroken. That honor still belongs to Houston attorney Trey Bergman, who set the blistering time of 51.92 seconds in 2017.
Renly joins an eclectic, international roster of past champions who have traveled from as far as Iowa, Seattle, and Honduras to compete in the island's sticky tradition.
