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MasterChef Australia season 17 is bringing back former contestants for another shot at culinary glory. “Back to Win” is the theme of the current 2025 season. It includes participants and finalists from previous seasons that fans love as well as some notable chefs that have made a name for themselves since their appearance. These returning stars have grown to become restaurant owners, cookbook authors, social media stars, private chefs and more!
To spice up their second opportunity, it’s not just the previous participants who are coming back, Golden Ramsay as a Judge is back as well!
Judges Andy Allen, Poh Ling-Yeow, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Sofia Levin guide the contestants through a series of tough challenges that will push them to their limits. There will be only one winner who will earn the title of champion and make history in MasterChef.
Back then it wasn't their time… now they're back to win! #MasterChefAU: Back To Win | Coming to @Channel10AU and 10 Play pic.twitter.com/lQewnGaDML
— MasterChef Australia (@masterchefau) March 15, 2025
Full List of MasterChef Australia 17 2025 Contestants:
| Contestant | Previous Season(s) | Previous Ranking(s) | Current Work & Culinary Ventures |
| Alana Lowes | Season 3 | 3rd Place | Food, travel, and lifestyle presenter, travel writer, magazine editor, recipe developer, food stylist, photographer, launched own sauce range |
| Andre Ursini | Season 1 | 7th Place | Opened Andre’s Cucina & Polenta Bar (now closed), operates Orso, Lost Phoenix Farm, and Villetta Porcini |
| Audra Morrice | Season 4 | 3rd Place | Judge on MasterChef Singapore, cookbook author, catering business proprietor in Sydney and Singapore |
| Beau Cook | Season 4 | 8th Place | Firefighter, advocate for “re-wilding”, homegrown food specialist |
| Ben Macdonald | Season 6 | 6th Place | Operates a café, a bistro, and a fresh pasta delivery business in Auckland, New Zealand |
| Callum Hann | Season 2, 12 | 2nd Place (S2), 4th Place (S12) | Owner of Olive and Roma in Adelaide CBD, Lou’s Place in Barossa Valley, runs Sprout cooking school |
| Cath Collins | Season 15 | 5th Place | Transitioned full-time into food industry |
| Darrsh Clarke | Season 16 | 6th Place | Moved to Melbourne, collaborates with MasterChef 2024 winner Nat Thaipun and David Tan for private dining experiences |
| Declan Cleary | Season 15 | 3rd Place | Building business owner, global brand ambassador, seafood specialist, aspiring farm-to-fork restaurant owner |
| Depinder Chhibber | Season 13 | 8th Place | Launched Ghar (Indian-style home dining experience), guest judge on MasterChef India |
| Jamie Fleming | Season 6 | 4th Place | Opened Alba Bar & Deli, launched Spill Wine in 2024 |
| Jimmy Wong | Season 8 | 19th Place | Food photographer, content creator, brand ambassador |
| Laura Sharrad | Season 6, 12 | 2nd Place (Both) | Co-owner of Fugazzi Bar & Dining and Nido (Italian pasta bar) in Adelaide |
| Matt Hopcraft | Season 7 | 6th Place | Associate professor in dentistry, pasta-making enthusiast |
| Pete Campbell | Season 13 | 2nd Place | Worked at Quay under Peter Gilmore, hosted pop-ups in NYC, currently working at Poly in Sydney |
| Rhiannon Anderson | Season 15 | 2nd Place | Founder of Rhiplenish (cooking demonstrations and brand collaborations) |
| Rue Mupedzi | Season 15 | 7th Place | Private chef, catering events, completed cooking courses |
| Samira El Khafir | Season 5 | 3rd Place | Launched café serving modern Middle Eastern food, cookbook author, launched low-carb product line |
| Sarah Todd | Season 6, 14 | 9th Place (S6), 2nd Place (S14) | International chef, restaurateur, author, TV host, owner of Hot Toddy sauce brand |
| Sav Perera | Season 16 | 3rd Place | Private chef, event catering, rising culinary star in Sri Lanka |
| Snezana Calic | Season 16 | 15th Place | Restaurant worker, pop-up cooking classes, working on Mediterranean/Serbian cookbook |
| Steph de Sousa | Season 11 | 12th Place | Social media influencer (Frugal Foodie, ~3M followers), authored two cookbooks, hosted TV series |
| Theo Loizou | Season 15 | 4th Place | Aspiring bakery owner, “Bread Boy,” exploring Greek heritage in cooking |
| Tim Bone | Season 11 | 4th Place | Founder of Tim’s Toasties (gourmet sandwich business), host of Good Chef, Bad Chef |
