'Utterly unapologetic': Melissa Leong recalls the invaluable lesson she learned on MasterChef

EXCLUSIVE: Melissa Leong became an Aussie household name via her role as a judge on MasterChef Australia.

Looking back, the food critic and writer, 44, tells nine.com.au her time on the hit show left her with some invaluable life lessons.

Leong starred on the cooking reality show from 2020 to 2023 alongside fellow judges Andy Allen and the late Jock Zonfrillo.

Watch the videos above.

She returned to screens as a judge on the spinoff series Dessert Masters.

Leong, an ambassador for this year's Witchery White Shirt Campaign, says she's learned to be "unapologetic" and to never "shrink" herself for the benefits of others.

"I am grateful for the time I spent on MasterChef because it opened up a whole new world that I get to revel in," she tells nine.com.au.

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"It definitely took a while to adjust to what that feels like, and the responsibilities associated with it.

"But it taught me that if you want to succeed, you need to be utterly unapologetic about who you are, and under no circumstances should you shrink yourself to make people feel less insecure."

She adds, "I am truly living my dream life right now. It's a mixed bag of brilliant projects, from TV to podcasting, food to travel and sports."

In October 2023, Leong wrote on Instagram about stepping away from MasterChef, "My time as co-host and judge ... has been a great gift. To have been given the opportunity to learn and grow - and now to be given the vote of confidence to expand and evolve the MasterChef universe is huge!

"Stepping away from the main show and into #DessertMastersAU alongside the extraordinary @AmauryGuichon, is yet another sweet present indeed.

"The changing of the guard is one I always planned to embrace, and I'm so glad to do that, on my terms, today."

Career aside, Leong – who recently released her memoir, Guts – also has some powerful thoughts about ageing and the pressure women face around their appearance.

"Seeing and hearing stories of people leaving us far too early should remind us that ageing is a gift, and that we should treat that gift with appreciation," she tells nine.com.au.

"How we choose to age is deeply personal, and there is SO MUCH pressure especially on women to do it a certain way," she adds.

"I say ... You do you. After all, you are the one person who truly gets to live with it."

Leong is an ambassador of the Witchery White Shirt Campaign, which helps raise funds and awareness for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF).

Supporting the cause means everything to Leong.

"I promised myself that should I ever reach a point in my career where I can use my voice for good, that I'd do it with all of who I am … because why wouldn't you?" she says.

"Diseases that affect only women get swept under the rug, and who suffers the consequences? Our sisters, mothers, girlfriends, daughters.

"It's a no brainer to support the work OCRF tireless do to get us to a better place."

Other ambassadors this year include Anna Heinrich, Indy Clinton and Kate Waterhouse.

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