MasterChef judge Melissa Leong says the secret to the revamped show’s success is diversity  


‘Everybody deserves to be seen and heard’: MasterChef judge Melissa Leong says the secret to the revamped show’s success is diversity

MasterChef Australia: Back To Win judge Melissa Leong has revealed that the secret to the revamped season’s smash success is simple – diversity. 

The 38-year-old told The Herald Sun on Sunday that many viewers finally have a reflection of themselves on TV. 

The cook said: ‘Everybody deserves to be seen and to be heard. Regardless of whether that is your culture, your language, who you love, your ability, or the way you chose to live your life, everybody deserves to be seen and be heard. 

Be seen: MasterChef Australia: Back To Win judge Melissa Leong (pictured) has revealed that the secret to the revamped season’s smash success is simple – diversity. The 38-year-old told The Herald Sun on Sunday that many viewers finally have a reflection of themselves on TV

She added that ‘it makes me very happy that people who look like me’ can see themselves on TV.  

‘I also hope that it gives those who have not been yet seen or heard adequately a reminder that their time is on its way,’ Melissa said. 

‘That very human need to feel seen is the thing that we share regardless of where we come from, regardless of our life experience and everybody deserves to feel validated in that regard.’    

The cook said: 'Everybody deserves to be seen and to be heard. Regardless of whether that is your culture, your language, who you love, your ability, or the way you chose to live your life, everybody deserves to be seen and be heard'

The cook said: ‘Everybody deserves to be seen and to be heard. Regardless of whether that is your culture, your language, who you love, your ability, or the way you chose to live your life, everybody deserves to be seen and be heard’

She added: 'That very human need to feel seen is the thing that we share regardless of where we come from, regardless of our life experience and everybody deserves to feel validated in that regard'

She added: ‘That very human need to feel seen is the thing that we share regardless of where we come from, regardless of our life experience and everybody deserves to feel validated in that regard’ 

Asian Australians have made up one-third of the contestants this season.

Contestants Brendan Pang, Khanh Ong, Reynold Poernomo and Poh Ling Yeow are all of Asian descent, as are Sarah Tiong, Jess Liemantara and Amina Elshafei, who is of Korean and Egyptian descent. 

Ousted contestant Ben Ungermann, who was dropped from the series, is of Indonesian and Dutch descent.

Diverse: Asian Australians have made up one-third of the contestants this season. Pictured left to right: Jess Liemantara, Khanh Ong, Poh, Brendan Pang and Reynold Poernomo

Diverse: Asian Australians have made up one-third of the contestants this season. Pictured left to right: Jess Liemantara, Khanh Ong, Poh, Brendan Pang and Reynold Poernomo

MasterChef: Back to Win, which has been praised for being the most diverse in the show’s history, has also included a number of openly gay constants including Brendan Pang, Reece Hignell, Courtney Roulston and Khanh Ong.    

Melissa recently  hinted she would be returning for the thirteenth season of MasterChef, after this year’s season was a surprise ratings smash. 

‘I’m very open-minded to the possibility of doing MasterChef season 13,’ she told Who magazine, but didn’t confirm her spot on the next season. 

Incoming: Melissa has hinted she would be returning for the thirteenth season of MasterChef, after this year's season was a surprise ratings smash. Pictured with her fellow judges

Incoming: Melissa has hinted she would be returning for the thirteenth season of MasterChef, after this year’s season was a surprise ratings smash. Pictured with her fellow judges