As a two-time contestant and returning judge, what’s the most chaotic thing that’s ever happened on a MasterChef set?
There’s chaos every day, but I think the time I decided to make dumplings in 20 minutes and not use any utensils. I ended up with giant blisters on every single fingertip. But I put up a good dish.
This season is all about former MasterChef contestants getting a second chance. What would you like a second chance at?
At being a returning contestant, again. There are third timers this year! You never know.
What’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a celebrity?
I don’t want to say their name, but I had a run in with a well-known Australian singer. We were sharing a car after an awards night, to go back to a hotel we were staying in, and she kind of kept trying to make me get out of the car because she didn’t think I was famous enough. I was kind of humiliated. I don’t know if they’re aware. One of the funniest things about awards nights is you want to go and say hi to celebrities, but it’s a room full of people you don’t actually know but you think you do.
You sell baked treats at Adelaide farmers’ markets. What’s the best feedback you’ve had from a customer?
One of my customers used to call my melting moments “BTS”, or “better than sex”. Which is very flattering. Or, they’re having really bad sex.
Who is the best cook you know?
I would have to say my aunty Kim because she can make really tasty things out of nothing. I think people from that era were so used to living with not much that they’re very industrious. Because Mum’s not around to take her shopping any more, I’ll buy groceries for her and she’ll pull recipes off the top of her head. She’s 85 and she’ll tell me the stories behind each dish; she’s amazing like that. She was the person who encouraged me to help in the kitchen. Mum was a real perfectionist in the kitchen and wasn’t as keen for me to help out, so aunty would let me. She also taught me how to expand my palate.
You once said you’d get a tattoo of a whisk if you could. What else would you get inked?
I would get a whisk and a paint brush; a whisk on my left hand and a paint brush on my right, because painting came before cooking for me. I don’t have any tattoos, so it’s a work in progress. I haven’t made any commitments …
What’s been your most memorable interaction with a fan?
They’re always really moving. I’ve had fans come up to me and say it meant so much to see you on the screen because they didn’t have role models like me; it’s always really meaningful for people to see a person of colour on screen. And I think there’s also something about being an example of someone who makes mistakes and still manages to get there. The path isn’t always smooth, and I represent that for some people.
What’s your top tip for surviving internet trolls?
If someone says something horrible to me, I just delete them. They’re usually just being a pain in the arse, like: “It’s disappointing to see you use cling wrap in that recipe.” I used to get attacked for my laugh, people would say that it was insincere and annoying. I think you have to treat them like flashers – if you don’t react, they go away. Who goes on to someone’s account and attacks them personally? Don’t give them any oxygen. My social media accounts are like my garden – if you poo in it, I’m going to scoop it up and put it in the garbage. I’m going to keep my garden clean. Don’t pee in my lawn.
If you could change the size of any animal to keep as a pet, what would it be?
I’m obsessed with beavers. When they’re babies, they’re the perfect size. I’d shrink them to the size of my palm. Have you seen the way they carry stuff? They load up their arms. There’s a video of Japanese beavers trying to carry a pumpkin and a carrot, balancing everything precariously. I find them so fascinating.
What’s the strangest thing you have in your fridge right now?
I kept some lychee juice that came out of a tin because I never waste anything. I sort of forgot about it and I found that it developed a scoby, like a starter for what you make kombucha with. I haven’t done anything with it yet. Maybe I’ll name it Emma.
Thank you. What a compliment.
MasterChef Australia: Back to Win 2025 is airing on Channel 10 and 10 Play now.
