My Kitchen Rules star Betty Banks has emotionally opened up about her mother’s blindness – and revealed how cooking created a bond between the pair which transcends sight.
The 28-year-old Sydney chef, who rose to fame on the Channel Seven show this year, spoke to Daily Mail Australia about growing up with a mother who couldn’t see her.
‘I saw her as a superwoman… teaching and guiding me even though she was blind,’ Betty told FEMAIL.
My Kitchen Rules star Betty Banks (pictured) says growing up with a mother who was blind made for a difficult childhood
The 28-year-old says she had to act as the ‘eyes’ for her mother while in the kitchen
‘It was quite hard as I would always be her helper. But she cared for me just as much as I cared for her.’
Her Laos-born mother lost her vision completely when Betty was only three years old, to an inexplicable medical condition.
Betty describes the condition as a ‘one in a million’ and still holds onto the hope her mum’s sight will naturally reappear, just as it disappeared without warning.
‘She has done so many tests to figure out what happened, but at one point realised the exhaustion just wasn’t worth it,’ she said.
‘It was like she was perfectly healthy one day and then disabled the next.’
Her Laos-born mother (pictured middle) lost her vision completely when Betty was only three-years-old to an inexplicable medical condition
Betty describes the condition as a ‘one in a million’ and still holds onto the hope her mum’s sight will naturally reappear, just as it disappeared without warning
‘Luckily she has adapted to a world of darkness… she counts how many steps she takes to get to the station. But she always says to me: “Betty, I’ve never even seen a movie”.’
The MKR starlet explains her affinity with and passion for cooking stems from the relationship she fostered with her mother while in the kitchen.
‘In the kitchen I would pass her the ingredients and utensils and essentially be her eyes while she used her taste and smell,’ she said.
‘When she first lost her sight it was so hard… going from 20/20 vision to just complete blackness. She says she almost gave up a few times.’
The MKR starlet explains her affinity with and passion for cooking stems from the relationship she fostered with her mother while in the kitchen
‘In the kitchen I would pass her the ingredients and utensils and essentially be her eyes while she used her taste and smell,’ Betty said
The brunette beauty says she dedicated everything she does to her beautiful mother
Betty has used her newfound fame and love for cooking to make her mum proud – as she says: ‘Everything I do, I do for her.’
She specialises cooking Asian fusion meals inspired by Laotian cuisine, the food she grew up making and eating with her mother.
Betty has now partnered with eye-wear company Oscar Wylee and charity Sight For All to help give sight to people in developed countries.
To celebrate the company giving 100 per cent of its profits on World Sight Day, the stunning chef organised a ‘Dinner in the Dark’ to help showcase what it is like for those without vision.
‘We walked into the room and I just teared up because I realised… this is what my mum sees,’ Betty said.
Betty has used her newfound fame and love for cooking to make her mum proud – as she says: ‘Everything I do, I do for her’
To celebrate Oscar Wylee giving 100% of its profits on World Sight Day, the stunning chef organised a ‘Dinner in the Dark’ to help showcase what it is like for those without vision