MasterChef Australia winner Nat Thaipun lashes out at critics and slams ‘harsh’ rumour about judges

MasterChef Australia winner Nat Thaipun has hit back at claims the show’s judges were unnecessarily harsh on her through the series. 

The Victorian barista, 28, who won the gruelling cooking competition on Tuesday, said she appreciated the judges strict critiques as it helped her push herself.

‘It’s actually really funny because so many people were messaging me telling me that the judges were a little bit too harsh on me,’ she told Yahoo Lifestyle.

‘I’d look back on those episodes and I’d have to question whether or not that was even the episode they were talking about because I don’t see it that way.’ 

Some of the ‘harsh’ feedback she received from the judges included Andy Allen criticising the lamb shanks she made, in which he openly asked if he had been wrong about what a promising chef she was.

Nat added she believed the judges feedback to be incredibly useful as it helped her to improve her culinary skills as she progressed through the competition. 

‘I look at it as a way to improve. If we didn’t get given constructive criticism, I don’t think I would be here now because the judges were constantly pushing us to make sure we improved,’ she told the publication. 

‘If I got caught up in all that, I don’t think I’d be able to win. I’m really good at hyper-focusing. Also, when anything has to do with food I’m just like, nothing else matters.’ 

Earlier this week, Thaipun won MasterChef Australia in a gripping finale, after completing chef Clare Smyth’s ‘Core-teaser’ dessert with 113 steps – but it was not without its faults. 

‘You had everything on the plate. It looked incredible. But when we ate it, surprisingly, there were textural flaws,’ said judge Andy Allen during the nail-biting scoring component of the show. 

‘Thankfully, you made up for it in flavour,’ added judge and food critic Sofia Levin.

Nat needed 33 points to beat runner-up Josh ‘Pezza’ Perry and she scraped in by a whisker. 

The Victorian barista, 28, who won the gruelling cooking competition on Tuesday, said she appreciated the judges strict critiques as it helped her push herself. Pictured with the judges after winning 

She managed to get a 7 out of 10 from all five judges, including guest judge Clare, leading her to victory by two points.  

The winner walks away with chef training from leading professional chefs, the chance to have their own cookbook published, and $250,000 in cash. 

Starting this week, Nat will also be serving her signature menu at Alumni Restaurant, Crown Melbourne.