After fighting it out in the kitchen for over two months, 32-year-old Brent Draper lifted the MasterChef Australia Season 15 trophy, defeating 47-year-old Rhiannon Anderson and walking away with a staggering AUD 250,000 prize.
Brent had participated in the 13th season of MasterChef Australia but decided to withdraw from the competition in order to prioritise his mental well-being.
“What an incredible journey,” said Brent, upon being announced the winner. “From the very first season until now, MasterChef has played a significant role in my life. It has transformed me, set me on a different path, helped me discover new aspects of myself, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
As part of the final challenge, Brent and Rhiannon were tasked with preparing a dish that conveyed a meaningful story to the judges Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen. Brent chose to recreate the very first dish he cooked during this season — Tamarind and Miso Glazed Pork Chop with Roasted Cabbage and Salsa — and earned a score of 29 points. In contrast, Rhiannon drew inspiration from her late mother and presented Crispy Pork Belly with a Citrus Asian Salad, which received 25 points.
The subsequent round featured a pressure test set by Amaury Guichon, a renowned pastry chef on TikTok, who challenged the finalists to replicate his intricate Pocket Watch dessert. Although Brent’s presentation had significant flaws, the judges were astounded by the resemblance in taste between his dish and Amaury’s creation. They awarded him 34 points, elevating his total score to 63, while Rhiannon ended with 52 points.
Rhiannon received AUD 40,000 as the runner-up of Season 15 and Declan Cleary got AUD 10,000 for securing the third spot.
The finale also marked the farewell of judge Zonfrillo, who tragically passed away earlier this year. The show paid a tribute to Zonfrillo in the concluding moments of the episode, showcasing a montage of his highlights from the four seasons he served as a judge. As the screen faded to black, the text read, ‘Let’s give it up for Jock Zonfrillo.’
