MKR's Cathy and Anna: The tragedy behind our smiles

My Kitchen Rules’ mother-and-daughter duo Cathy and Anna admit they’re not the type who’d normally audition for a reality TV show.

From rural north NSW, the two would rather watch from the privacy of their couch than volunteer themselves to be judged by fellow MKR teams and the Australian public.

RELATED: My Kitchen Rules' Carly & Tresne's secret wedding

But four years ago, all that changed.

MKR's Cathy and Anna reveal the reason they decided to audition for the show. Source: New Idea

Cathy’s son Hugh – Anna’s brother and ‘best friend’ – passed away at the age of 24, and it made them realise that life is short and should be embraced.

‘Hugh is the reason we are on this show,’ food critic and restaurant blogger Anna, 26, tells New Idea exclusively.

RELATED: Manu Feildel denies secretly marrying his fiancée

‘When he died, our lives changed forever. You suddenly realise life is short and, while it’s a cliche, it’s so true. If you want to do something, just do it. And so I did! I decided to fill out the form on the MKR website to be a part of the competition.’

Read all about Cathy and Anna's story in this week's New Idea magazine, on sale now!

Subscribe to New Idea and keep up-to-date with all your favourite celebrities, touching real-life stories, delicious recipes and more each week!