Valeri & Christina

Founders of Queen of Hearts Couture Cakes

Founded in London in 2011 by Valeri Valeriano and Christina Ong, Queen of Hearts Couture Cakes began as a cupcake venture and has since evolved into a global leader in buttercream education. Although established in London, the founders are now based in both London and the Philippines. Their journey in buttercream began after relocating from the Philippines to pursue new careers abroad, where they discovered an unexpected passion for cake decorating.

After offering their cupcakes at events for a while, the duo steered toward teaching after being invited to host a live demonstration at the Cake International Show 2012 in London. Since then, they have been teaching buttercream masterclasses, which have gone from having one student to being constantly sold out. They have taught masterclasses across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, often conducting intensive programs on design theory, buttercream chemistry, and hands-on floral work. Their demonstrations at Cake International, one of the most prestigious platforms in the field, helped expand their reach and opened doors to more international collaborations.

The duo also authored several best-selling titles, such as The Contemporary Buttercream Bible, 100 Buttercream Flowers, Buttercream One-Tier Wonders, Buttercream Flowers for All Seasons, and Buttercream Palette Knife Painting Techniques which are used as references by hobbyists and professionals alike.

Valeri and Christina’s passion extend beyond education and events, building communities at the same time by co-founding Cake Fiesta Manila, an expo focused on strengthening the cake decorating industry in the Philippines, as well as the Cake Club PH, a community of bakers