In 2010, Kate Reid stepped into a renowned bakery in Paris, feeling a surge of excitement and hope. At that time, she was battling anorexia, a struggle that had nearly taken her life. "I don't know if many people could say they've had an overwhelming experience in a bakery, but that's exactly what it was," she recalled. Reid, originally from Melbourne, had achieved a significant milestone by securing a job with an international Formula One (F1) team at just 23. However, the reality of her job did not align with her dreams, leading her to feel a loss of control in her life. In response, she channeled her determination into controlling her body, which spiraled into an obsession with food restriction.

"I've never had a period in my life where I haven't had something to obsess over," Reid said. This obsession took a toll on her health, as her commitment to restricting food intensified her desire for the very thing she craved: French pastries. "When you suffer from anorexia and you fall in love with baking, it's almost an oxymoron. I mean, the two don't go together," her father, Bob Reid, explained.

Despite the challenges, Reid found solace in baking, particularly in mastering the croissant. A work placement at the famous Paris bakery Du Pain et des Idées allowed her to learn the fundamentals of croissant production. Upon returning to Melbourne, she meticulously reverse-engineered the croissant, leading to the establishment of Lune, which has grown to seven locations and has been recognized by the New York Times as home to some of the best croissants in the world.

"The croissant to me is the Formula One of the pastry world," Reid said. "It's incredibly technical, and I guess it's where I found the intersection of baking, art, science, and engineering. It healed me."

Reid's need for control began early in her life. Diagnosed with chronic asthma at 18 months, she faced numerous hospitalizations before the age of four. "The asthma was the earliest example of a huge element of my life being out of control," she noted. This experience heightened her desire to control other aspects of her life.

Her parents, Bob and June, played a crucial role in her journey. June dedicated long hours to monitoring Kate's health, while Bob took on the night shifts. As a child, Kate often woke up in panic, struggling to breathe, and Bob was always there to help her with the nebulizer. This created a strong bond between them. "It would lead to a strong bond that otherwise might not have been there," Bob said.

Kate's admiration for her father grew as she sought ways to spend more time with him, often through their shared interest in cars and racing. This connection would later influence her journey into the world of baking, where she found a new passion that ultimately helped her overcome her struggles with anorexia.