MasterChef viewers think they've figured out how the 2024 season ends: 'Been the plan from day one'

MasterChef Australia viewers have predicted how the competition will pan out (yep, that was a cooking pun) and it seems they are fairly united in who they believe will take home the crown. After winning the only immunity pin to be offered this season - and consistently plating up dishes that wow the judges - it seems that Nat Thaipun is the firm favourite to take home the $250,000 prize.

The barista from Victoria has pushed herself throughout the competition and, while she has ended up in a couple of elimination cooks, has always been able to redeem herself - and keep that shiny immunity pin safe on her apron. It appears her creativity and pluckiness have earned Nat the title of 'most likely to win', with her betting odds currently sitting at $1.50 on Sportsbet.

Meanwhile, in an online group dedicated to the cooking show, one fan asked their fellow viewers who they thought would be victorious at the end of the series and the answer was fairly unanimous.

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"Any standout contestants that you have identified to be the winner yet?" someone asked. "My thoughts are on Nat, she keeps on delivering."

"Nat has been a favourite of judges from the start," someone replied. "My opinion only."

"I really like Nat, she is my number one," another said. "I also like Sumeet, Mimi and Josh."

"Nat! She has been my favourite from day one," said a third.

"I have thought Nat from day one," added someone else.

"Nat for sure...she even plates beautifully," echoed yet another fan.

Fans suggest MasterChef is 'rigged'

A few fans thought that it was "preordained" that she was going to win based on how the season had been edited.

"I think it’s obvious… she’s had the most air time out of all contestants since day one…" someone theorised.

"That’s been the plan from day one," another rather mysteriously said to which someone replied, "Are you saying it’s rigged because it can’t be".

On X, it was more of the same as fans shared their admiration for the plucky home cook with one viewer posting, "Nat is so cool. Put her name on the trophy already..."

Mimi a close second with fans

After Nat, it looks like Mimi Wong has also racked up some favour with viewers as comments rolled in showing support for the 25-year-old High School teacher from NSW.

"Nat and Mimi are both brilliant," one person said on Facebook.

"Nat...and Mimi," another said.

"I like Nat and Mimi too," someone else agreed.

However, the odds on Sportsbet beg to differ with the odds of her winning sitting at $31.00.

Who is Nat Thaipun?

According to Nat's bio on the 10Play website, "Nat is a proud Australian-born Thai woman who grew up in a busy family of five on Melbourne’s outskirts, with two younger brothers, and parents who ran a Thai restaurant where her Mum and food hero, Nutsiree, was head chef."

As if that wasn't enough to fuel her passion for food and cooking, her late grandmother, Purd Boonpun, was a huge influence, even after her passing, as she witnessed food’s place in grief and healing.

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Nat's dream is to "create a hospitality co-working space called “The Good Space”’, and would love to emulate her hero Anthony Bourdain, writing to expose audiences to food and culture all over the world.

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