MasterChef’s Melissa Leong: On the Fine Arts of Food, Fashion and Criticism

Excerpts from the exclusive Zoom interview:

This season features many popular names from previous seasons such as Julie and Sashi; I know you shouldn’t pick a favourite, but there must be contestants whose journey you’ve seen before and now excited to chat?

As much as I know about the stupendous achievements of these former contestants, I have to put it aside and just meet people that day, and judge by what’s in front of me.

As we always like to say, judge the food; not people. But apparently it’s a huge thrill to have some of these incredible characters back in the kitchen. Not least because they are wonderful people, but also because the way the audience resonates with them. It is a privilege for me to see all this so closely.

Did the three of you take into account the feedback from the audience and the media on your hosting of last season?

No, I didn’t actually try to read the response. Our fantastic promotions team tells us how it’s been received. And with great relief and great joy, we are told that we have been received really well, and that is a wonderful thing.

But I think what makes Jock, Andy, and ourselves good in what we do, and what makes our dynamic great, is that we are always ourselves, for better or worse. We are always trying to be better every single day and support each other more. I think it plays into what you see on the screen.

As the first permanent female judge and woman of color in the MasterChef Australia space, what has been your biggest learning over the past three years?

Look, I took on this role as a judge because I felt I had a background in food journalism, PR and marketing, and my awareness of global food was a good fit for the job. But what I was not prepared for is the emotional contribution to the job and the way people work.

We’ve had many discussions about representation, inclusivity, and diversity, but the thing that really knocked me out was the resonance with people of color — the underrepresented people in society in general — reaching out and saying, Hey, this is for us. Something matters.

I know it’s not rocket science, obviously… but it’s bigger than itself in some way. So it’s really cool to be part of a new movement of representation in the media, in popular culture, in film and television in general. It makes me feel really good that I am among such an amazing group of people who are pushing the needle.

You have been super vocal about your struggles with mental health, and have now emerged as a global advocate for the cause. What advice would you give to reality show contestants – MasterChef or otherwise – on dealing with the stress of such a high-stakes television environment?

I’m Chinese in the background; You are Indian, and we both know that in general, mental health is not a topic that is openly discussed in Asia.

I remember growing up, it’s not something a family talks about. But now, being more open to discussing mental health issues can only benefit society in general. We all, as human beings, will face rough patches at some point in our lives. But in knowing how to manage those tough times, we feel less alone and perform a little better.

My advice to contestants of all kinds of competitive reality shows, is definitely knowing you’re up for it. Being genuine and vulnerable is important, but you also need to protect yourself and have a certain amount of flexibility about where you are in your life.

Your equation with Jock and Andy has developed so wonderfully since the trio debuted, you all seem really close at this point. But I’m sure disagreements and fights happen off-screen too, especially when making big calls…

The wonderful thing about the relationship between Jock, Andy and I is that it is built on a foundation of respect.

Melissa: ‘Our decisions always come down to the platter of food, not the person’

We all respect each other based on our individual perspectives, our knowledge and skills in the very rich and diverse field of food. In that regard, I think that’s why the three of us work so well together. When we’re trying to decide which one to eliminate, or if it’s too close between two dishes—and that means someone is going home—we break it down from a technical standpoint, and we Listen to each other’s feedback in terms of interpretations.

But it always comes down to the plate of food, not the person. We are not judging his character; Explaining only the technical flaws or subjectivity of the food.

During the pandemic, many first-time cooks have taken to the kitchen and inspired — and comforted — episodes old and new from seasons of MasterChef. Does this make you feel more responsible as a judge/mentor for the time being on the show?

‘Responsibility’ is a loaded word, I guess. I really appreciate how people have taken meaning MasterChef Australia in their own life. We do what we do because we love to eat, we know how to eat and we love sharing the experiences, stories, history and culture of the contestants on the show. But the way it takes life after that, it’s not something I feel completely responsible for… it adds up to its own thing, doesn’t it?

Have you ever thought of being on the other side of the drama as a contestant? If given the chance in the future, would you like to cook, perhaps in a special episode?

no at all! (laughs) I know my place in this competition, and I am very comfortable being a judge.. It is undoubtedly incredibly brave to see what the contestants do, go into the kitchen every single day, completely unaware of what else is going to happen. Yes, unaware of it. Each of them approaches the challenge with good humor, and really gives serious thought to what they’ll cook and why. I have unwavering respect for him for this.

You are known for constantly trying new cuisines in different countries on-screen as well as on social media and promoting the same; Who have you been associated with most recently?

Before the pandemic, I was traveling abroad for travel and food stories. The last place I was in North Africa was Morocco; It was such a wonderful blend of Middle-Eastern cuisine, Arabic culture, French contributions and influences from across Europe. I try to be really fair when it comes to food, and am open to any food experience that is presenting itself to me.

Wherever you go around the world, history also has an influence in terms of multiculturalism, trade routes and colonialism. It really gives you an endless array of experiences and interpretations of food, stories and families.

Your clothing and fashion sense at the show has attracted a lot of praise and fandom; How much work does it take to figure out what you wear in each episode?

It really is testament to our amazing wardrobe department! We have an incredible stylist, and whether you realize it or not, the way the three of us dressed is very intentional; Textures or colors have unifying features, and everything is perceived fairly rapidly.

Andy, Melissa and Jock on the set of the show

The great thing about what we choose to wear is our opinion of who we are and how we want to present ourselves, and then that information is interpreted by our stylists.

It’s really great that our fashion audience has loved it. For me personally, being Australian and living here, this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible Australian designers and labels. Each week of the show is a great opportunity for an elite designer – emerging or otherwise – to showcase their work for the entirety of that week.

Of course, MasterChef has a huge fan following in India.. Any plans to come in the near future?

I would absolutely love to travel to India for many reasons. It’s been a crazy two years where all of a sudden – after traveling – we haven’t been able to go anywhere.

I am so thrilled to experience more of the very distinctive regional cuisine. It is such an honor to meet any contestant who has traveled extensively and lived in India, or is from an Indian background.

Australia has so far only been dipping a toe in the water, really understanding the depth and nuances of Indian cuisine, and this is something that is really exciting to me as it grows.

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