Melissa Leong had big shoes to fill when she — along with Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo — replaced Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston as judges on the latest season of MasterChef Australia on Star World. The Australian television host and food critic bided her time before giving her nod. "Knowing the impact this show has made around the world, I wanted to ensure that I would be able to give it my all," says Leong, who became the first woman judge to come on board the show after 11 successful seasons.

One would imagine that the sumptuous food and the novel recipes are the secret to the show's glorious success. But Leong believes that its true appeal lies in its contestants, each bringing his unique journey to the table. "The best food you can eat is something that is true to the person making it. Their techniques may showcase how they balance flavours using contrasting textures, but [the dish they make] tells the story of who they are," she asserts.