Didn’t Know My Presence in Masterchef Australia Would Be a Signal to the Underrepresented: Melissa Leong

“I certainly could not cook that well at age ten. I mean, my parents always let me in the kitchen and I was allowed to help with small tasks, but I don’t think I would have been able to cook a three-course meal flawlessly, multiple times a week for my family. Who are these kids, and what lucky families,” she added.

During Masterchef Australia 12, Melissa received a lot of praise for being the ’empathetic judge’ in a highly competitive environment. “You can’t possibly understand the experiences of others to their fullest extent. But you can try to understand the challenges someone else goes through and show them kindness and empathy. That’s how we bring the best out of each other as humans,” she explained.

All was not rosy as Melissa had to also face racist and sexist attacks. However, she has always let her work and expertise do the talking. Many hailed the food writer for being an inspiration as the first woman of colour to serve as a judge on the series.

“I said yes because I am a food writer and a presenter and I wanted to do the job. But being in the job I could understand that what I represent, is a signal to all others who have felt underrepresented and unheard. That we have an important message to bring to the world. That my presence is not just about a signal to women or People of Colour, it’s a signal to everybody who feels unheard. And it could be ability, it could be identity. Every human deserves the right to be seen, to be heard and to contribute to the conversation,” she concluded.

Junior Masterchef Australia is streaming on Disney+ Hostar with new episodes every week.