MasterChef Australia star Julie Goodwin reveals heartbreaking childhood trauma in her new memoir: ‘I am lucky to be here’

Julie Goodwin has opened up about a distressing childhood trauma detailed in her new memoir.

The 53-year-old MasterChef Australia star has just released her autobiography, Your Time Starts Now, which describes how she was sexually abused as a child and later attempted suicide as a teenager.

The TV chef, who rose to fame with her winning appearance on MasterChef in 2009, claims the long-buried memory of her abuse returned when she was 16.

Speaking to The Australian Women’s Weekly, she said ‘Nothing triggered it, it was just like the memory was always there, like a dusty book on a library shelf.’ 

‘And one day I took it down and looked at it and went, “Holy crap, how have I not thought about that for nine years?”‘ she added.

Julie Goodwin has opened up about a distressing childhood trauma detailed in her new memoir. Pictured

The 53-year-old MasterChef Australia star has just released a tell-all memoir, Your Time Starts Now, which describes how she was sexually abused as a child and later attempted suicide as a teenager

The 53-year-old MasterChef Australia star has just released a tell-all memoir, Your Time Starts Now, which describes how she was sexually abused as a child and later attempted suicide as a teenager

Goodwin kept the abuse to herself, maintaining an excellent academic record at high school.

She rose to the position of school captain and displayed outstanding performance in her studies.

But at the age of 17, a year after the memory of her abuse resurfaced, she attempted suicide.

The TV chef claims the long-buried memory of her abuse returned when she was 16. Speaking to The Australian Women's Weekly, she said 'Nothing triggered it, it was just like the memory was always there, like a dusty book on a library shelf'

The TV chef claims the long-buried memory of her abuse returned when she was 16. Speaking to The Australian Women’s Weekly, she said ‘Nothing triggered it, it was just like the memory was always there, like a dusty book on a library shelf’

Goodwin kept the abuse to herself, maintaining an excellent academic record at high school. But at the age of 17, a year after the memory of her abuse resurfaced, she attempted suicide

Goodwin kept the abuse to herself, maintaining an excellent academic record at high school. But at the age of 17, a year after the memory of her abuse resurfaced, she attempted suicide

Following her hospitalisation, Goodwin resumed school a few days later as if nothing serious had happened.

The beloved TV star claims her husband Mick helped on her road to recovery, giving her the love and support she needed, and now says she is grateful for her life.

‘I am living my second life,’ she told Women’s Weekly. ‘I am lucky to be here.’  

The beloved TV star claims her husband Mick helped on her road to recovery, giving her the love and support she needed, and now says she is grateful for her life. 'I am living my second life,' she told Women's Weekly. 'I am lucky to be here'

The beloved TV star claims her husband Mick helped on her road to recovery, giving her the love and support she needed, and now says she is grateful for her life. ‘I am living my second life,’ she told Women’s Weekly. ‘I am lucky to be here’

It comes as Julie is set to swap her apron for a ball gown as she appears in the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars.

Other stars confirmed in the 21st season of the dancing show will include SAS Australia’s Ant Middleton, AFL legend Ben Cousins, fashion designer Nadia Bartel, actress Lisa McCune, and many more.

Dr Chris Brown will be joining Sonia Kruger at the helm of the dancing competition, hosting its 2024 season after replacing long-serving host Daryl Somers. 

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Julie GoodwinMasterchef Australia

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