MasterChef 2024 winner hits back at major fan theory: 'Wouldn't be here'

It simply wouldn’t be a season of MasterChef Australia without viewers accusing the judges of playing favourites. Over the past few weeks, fans have suspected that Andy Allen in particular has been coaching certain contestants, namely Josh ‘Pezza’ Perry, while being rather harsh to others.

Viewers were outraged last week when Andy was “unnecessarily cruel” to the season’s eventual winner Nat Thaipun and gave her some “tough love” when she served overcooked lamb shanks. The dish led to Andy telling Nat that while he had always thought she had so much potential, he was now wondering if he was right about her.

Speaking with Yahoo Lifestyle following Tuesday night’s finale, Nat admits that she never took any of the judges’ criticism to heart and she’s grateful that they pushed her to be her best.

“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. And 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 in that way,” she remarks.

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“I look at it as a way to improve and if we didn't get given constructive criticism, I don't think I would be here now and Pezza would never be in the finale because the judges were constantly pushing us to make sure that we improved. So I genuinely didn’t feel like that at all.

“But that’s also just me as well. Because my parents, the way they talk to me is kind of similar. Even when you do well, it's like, ‘Well, you can do better’,” she adds with a laugh.

Poh Ling Yeow weighs in on fan theory

Nat went on to say that it’s important contestants don’t take any feedback personally throughout the competition so they don’t psyche themselves out.

“If I got caught up in all that, I don't think I'd be able to win,” she reflects. “I'm really good at just hyper-focusing. And also, when anything has to do with food I'm just like, nothing else matters. I don’t hear any of the other noise.”

Nat’s comments echo those of Poh Ling Yeow, who recently told news.com.au that while she had “conspiracies” as a contestant that the judges had favourites, things couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I can honestly tell you, that’s just not the case. There is no room for anything but fairness,” she told the publication. “It’s a really comprehensive process and in-depth discussion that leads to the final decision. In fact, we are often divided. There is no way favouritism comes into play.”

Nat spills on future plans

Not only did Nat walk away from MasterChef with the $250,000 prize money and a residency at Crown Melbourne’s ALUMNI restaurant, but she also won the opportunity to go to London and work in Jamie Oliver’s restaurant for a week as part of the first immunity challenge.

The Victorian-based barista tells Yahoo Lifestyle that she flew to London immediately after filming the show and she “completely fell in love” with having a career in the culinary industry.

“It kind of gave me a taste for what it’s like to be in the kitchen and I love it,” she shares. “For years everyone was telling me that I’m a good cook and I've just been like, ‘I'm not, you guys just think I'm a good cook because there's not many variety of restaurants in Wanaka’.

“But then when I left New Zealand and came on MasterChef, every single challenge I did I was like, ‘Maybe I am good at cooking?’. And now I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna make a career out of this. And I have no regrets because I'm so pumped. So it’s really ignited the spark in my heart and I feel very warm and fuzzy and excited.”

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Post-show, Nat plans on using some of her prize money to travel around the world and work at “loads of different restaurants”.

“Honestly, I just want to travel and immerse myself in different cultures and culinary techniques, learn a lot and broaden my knowledge before I decide what to do next,” she says.

“I also want to do some supper clubs all around the world, go to markets and build a menu based off that, have people come and meet loads of people. I really want to go back to London too, maybe open a restaurant one day after all those experiences. So many things! The world’s definitely my oyster.”

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