Meet the contestants competing on MasterChef Australia: Secrets & Surprises

The upcoming season of MasterChef Australia: Secrets & Surprises is set to premiere in May and it looks to be a thrilling series full of culinary drama. 

The Channel Ten competitive cooking show has now released a full list of the cast ahead of the premiere on Monday, May 1.

This number of contestants has been cut down this year from 24 to 18 and they are a unique group of culinary experts in the making. Let’s meet them.

Adi Nevgi

Nevgi works in the healthcare sector in Melbourne and has traveled to 55 countries throughout her lifetime. 

Her worldly experience has seen her develop a love for creating delectable dishes and her Indian heritage means she is particularly passionate about creating tasty South-East Asian cuisine.

The upcoming season of MasterChef Australia: Secrets & Surprises is set to premiere in May and it looks to be a thrilling series full of culinary drama. Pictured L – R: Series judges Melissa Leong, Andy Allen, and Jock Zonfrillo

Alice Han (pictured) was born and raised in Sydney and got her Bachelor's degree from Stanford University in California

Alice Han (pictured) was born and raised in Sydney and got her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in California

Alice Han 

Han was born and raised in Sydney and got her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in California.

Her parents hail from China and moved to Australia shortly before she was born, which has given her a passion for creating Asian dishes. 

She works as a freelance writer and can speak four languages – English, Mandarin, French and German. 

Amy Tanner 

Tanner hails from Victoria and has been a huge fan of MasterChef since it first aired in 2009.

She recently travelled to the Middle East and South-East Asia which saw her develop a passion for worldly cuisine.

Amy particularly likes seafood and it is her dream to one day open a wine bar.

Andrea Puglisi

Puglisi was born and raised in Turin in Italy and after moving to Australia he initially lived in Victoria before relocating to WA.

He has a passion for Mediterranean and pescatarian flavours as well as traditional Italian dishes.

His long-term goal is to open a wine and cocktail bar in a scenic tropical location. 

Antonio Vaamonde (pictured) was born in Venezuela and made the move to Australia in 2015

Antonio Vaamonde (pictured) was born in Venezuela and made the move to Australia in 2015

Antonio Cruz Vaamonde 

Vaamonde was born in Venezuela and made the move to Australia in 2015.

He has a real sweet tooth when it comes to food and specialises in preparing tasty pastries and desserts.

Brent Draper

Draper returns to MasterChef after first appearing on the 2021 season, where he left midway through to focus on his mental health.

The Queensland native has spent the past two years focusing on personal growth and promises to bring that special something to this year’s season.

Cath Collins

Collins said she has been inspired by former MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin to go above and beyond in the kitchen.

She lives in Victoria and is a Jack of all Trades when it comes to cooking, meaning she can cook anything and everything with skill and style.

Declan Cleary  

Cleary works as a carpenter during the day and cooks up a storm in the evening.

He has travelled to Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico and Papua New Guinea and has a passion for artfully preparing seafood dishes. 

‘Declan’s my name, and fish is my game,’ he says.

Brent Draper (pictured) returns to MasterChef after first appearing during the 2021 season, where he left midway through to focus on his mental health

Brent Draper (pictured) returns to MasterChef after first appearing during the 2021 season, where he left midway through to focus on his mental health

This year's contestants has been cut down from 24 to 18. All pictured

This year’s contestants has been cut down from 24 to 18. All pictured

Grace Jupp

Jupp owns and operates an olive oil company with her husband, who is a former chef.

She says her hubby introduced her to the world of cuisine and she hopes to put her top-notch food preparation skills to good use on the show.

Jessica Perri

Perri is an Italian beauty who was taught incredible food preparation skills from a young age from both her grandmothers.

She has a knack for creating tasty pasta dishes and says she is continuing her family’s amazing food legacy.

Jessica describes her dishes as ‘generous, abundant and  flavourful’ and says she hopes to one day open her own cooking school. 

She has a knack for creating tasty pasta dishes and says she is continuing her famil amazing food legacy.

Fedele is a clinical nutritionist who has loved food for as long as she can remember as her parents owned a fruit and veg shop when she was growing up.

She hails from South Australia and specialises in making delicious pastas and sauces from the ground up.

Phil Conway

Conway made the move to Melbourne a decade ago from Ireland and a recent trip to Italy saw him learn traditional pasta making recipes from the experts.

The fitness studio manager reignited his love for cooking during the Covid lockdown when he prepared delicious meals at home to keep himself busy.

Audiences can expect more engaging culinary insight from the judging panel comprising of food experts Melissa Leong, Andy Allen, and Jock Zonfrillo

Audiences can expect more engaging culinary insight from the judging panel comprising of food experts Melissa Leong, Andy Allen, and Jock Zonfrillo 

Ralph Kahango

Kahango grew up in Zimbabwe and South Africa and hopes to wow the judges with his delicious African-inspired dishes.

His ultimate goal is to one day host his own cooking show so he can share the secrets of his delicious dishes with an audience.

Rhiannon Anderson

Anderson learned her culinary secrets from her late mother who worked as a chef, and aims to continue her legacy by appearing on MasterChef.

She loves Asian dishes with a tropical topping and describes her food as bold and punchy.

Robbie Cooper 

Cooper is a proud Iwaidja man who hails from the Northern Territory and describes his cooking as ‘Aboriginal Asian fusion’.

One of his key strengths is the ability to combine traditional and modern recipes and he looks set to wow the judges with his delectable dishes.

Rue Mupedzi 

Mupedzi relocated from Zimbabwe to Western Australia when she was 15 and has made it a habit to skillfully recreate restaurant meals at home.

The skilled dessert chef started her own macaroon making business in 2021 and is set to show the other contestants what gives a great dessert that extra oomph.

Theo Loizou 

Loizou works as an electrician and has a passion for creating mouth-watering bread based recipes in the kitchen.

The Melbourne native learned his breadmaking recipes from some of the world’s best chef’s in France and looks set to wow audiences with his stunning creations.

MasterChef Australia: Secrets & Surprises premieres Monday, May 1 at 7.30pm on Channel Ten

MasterChef Australia returns Monday, May 1 at  7.30pm on Channel Ten

MasterChef Australia returns Monday, May 1 at  7.30pm on Channel Ten

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