MasterChef’s Melissa Leong hits back at critics who said that she ‘wasn’t qualified’

Melissa Leong appeared on The Sunday Project this weekend and she had a message for the trolls. 

The 38-year-old MasterChef Australia: Back To Win star hit back at critics who said that she ‘wasn’t qualified’ to judge on the show.  

‘I didn’t know the trolls had a copy of my CV, of my decade-long journey through food!’ she joked. 

‘But it is a cathartic thing to show my knowledge about food, but there’s always more to learn. So let’s just add to the CV.’

Then, cheekily, she waved to the camera and said, ‘Hi, trolls!’ 

Melissa also discussed the topic of diversity on the show, after what has been the most diverse season of the show yet. 

‘I think that when you are in a moment in time like this, you really have to stop and take it in because it is really important, historic moment for Australian television and for media in general. 

‘I think it really gives me the extra impetus to be reminded of everybody else who hasn’t really felt seen and represented so far, and to remind them that their moment is on the way as well.’ 

It comes after Melissa hit back at a troll who called her a vile racial slur, in a post shared by her fellow judge Jock Zonfrillo on Sunday. 

The rambling message read: ‘Having to watch trailers of you and that painful g**k criticise what is put in front of you because a pea is in the wrong place half the stuff no one would ever make geez you are so far up yourselves’.

Jock replied in his caption: ‘When you used the term ‘g**k’. She’s actually Melissa, she’s my work wife, my sister, my mate… She’s a woman whose origin happens to be different than yours, but why does that make you so afraid?’

Melissa reposted the comment on her Instagram Stories, marking up the man’s grammar mistakes and writing: ‘I couldn’t help myself, I had to mark this one up. Grammar is the difference between knowing your s**t, and knowing you’re s**t.’