‘Cupcake Wars’ Champion Hollis Wilder Shares Her Story For World Bipolar Day: From Baking To Advocacy

As World Bipolar Day approaches on March 30, celebrated chef and three-time “Cupcake Wars” champion Hollis Wilder is using her platform to open up about her personal experience with bipolar disorder — and help others do the same.

Wilder, who revolutionized the savory cupcake trend and authored the bestselling “Savory Bites,” now channels her creativity into mental health advocacy through her wellness brand Battered Brilliance. The initiative blends storytelling, mindfulness, and self-discovery to support those facing mental health challenges.

“Winning ‘Cupcake Wars’ three times was an incredible experience, but behind the scenes, I was crumbling,” Wilder said. After a a reaction to anxiety medication led to a psychotic break and a bipolar diagnosis, she found healing through mindfulness, creative expression, and sharing her story.

“That could have been the end of my story, but instead, it became my greatest transformation. I realized that life isnt about what the batter is; its about what it can become,” Wilder said. “Battered Brilliance was born out of that philosophy. I took my love of baking and turned it into a metaphor for self-discovery and reinvention.”

Through her Mind, Body & Brilliance wellness program and “BipolarQurious” podcast, Wilder is helping dismantle mental health stigma while promoting tools for self-empowerment. Shes also working on a new book, “A Girlfriends Guide to Bipolar Dating,” and preparing to take her message on the road with the upcoming Brilliance Bus tour.

“Mind, Body & Brilliance is my all-in-one wellness toolkit — its meditation, mindful cooking, and visualization all wrapped up in a delicious, transformative experience. Its designed to help people find balance, reset, and rise in their own way,” Wilder said. “Then theres BipolarQurious, my podcast where we dive into the realities of mental health, bipolar and beyond. Its raw, real, and sometimes hilarious because, lets be honest, dating with bipolar? Thats a ride.”

Wilder says readers can expect honesty and humor from “A Girlfriends Guide to Bipolar Dating,”

“Expect a guide that isnt just for people with bipolar disorder but for anyone who has ever tried to navigate love, dating apps, or the chaos of relationships. This book isnt about slapping a clinical lens on romance; its about the mess, the magic, and the moments that make dating what it is,” Wilder said. “Ill be sharing my own stories, the disasters and the triumphs, but Im also inviting others to share theirs. Love isnt always picture-perfect, and neither is mental health, but that doesnt mean we cant have incredible relationships.”

With the upcoming release of the book, Wilder plans to hit the road in the Brilliance Bus, hosting live events, speed dating nights, “and maybe even making a few cupcakes along the way.”

“Bipolar disorder gives me a front-row seat to the full spectrum of emotion, and thats a gift,” Wilder said. “At the end of the day, its not about the batter — its about what it can become.”