Lia Weber – recently crowned as TLC’s Next Great Baker Season 4 reality television show award winner in 2014 – is the newest brand ambassador for AB Mauri North America. What began as an interest in baking Italian cookies at age 5 has evolved into a three-decade long passion for baking and cake decorating, culminating with the Next Great Baker honor given by Buddy ‘The Cake Boss’ Valastro, chocolatier Jacques Torres and iconic pastry chef Bobbie Lloyd.

An accomplished pastry chef, baker and cake artist herself, Weber is the owner of Made. by Lia specialty sweets and cakes, based in Florissant, Missouri. The Bellefontaine, Missouri, native specializes in French macarons, cupcakes, pastries, tarts, all-occasion cakes, wedding cakes and intricate decorating and piping.

Weber holds a bachelor's in business degree from Fontbonne University and an associate in baking & pastry arts degree from Forest Park Community College, both in St. Louis, Missouri.  Additionally, the 25-year-old previously attended the Apicius Culinary Institute of Florence (Italy). 

Prior to starting her own business in 2012, Weber was one of the lead cake decorators for Wedding Wonderland Cake Shop – the largest wedding cake showroom in the St. Louis area. She also has served as the pastry chef for Hendel’s market café and as an assistant pastry chef for Eclipse restaurant and the Moonrise Hotel, both in the greater St. Louis area.

She currently resides in Florissant, Missouri.