States: NSW

Age: 28

Occupation: Travel Agent

As a child, Jess loved walking in the door from school and kick-starting dinner before her mum would arrive from work. It was time in the kitchen she relished, having learnt the basics watching cooking shows together. The pair would watch Nigella Lawson whip up dishes, and inspired by her culinary idol, Jess would take what she’d seen and in turn cook for her mum.

Born in London, Jess was two when she and her mum moved to Sydney, where she later graduated from high school in 2007. At 19 Jess returned to London where she ultimately stayed for eight years, successfully working in the travel industry.

Living in London gave Jess the freedom to explore and experiment with recipes and cuisines, inspired by the breadth of cultures living together in the vibrant city. She enjoyed hosting dinner parties, and says her skills in the kitchen lie in her intuition. She likes a recipe to start the process, but uses it as a template rather than a guide, using her own palate to alter its direction. She also benefited from her getaways across the continent, enjoying eating at Michelin star restaurants one day, and small hole-in-the-wall restaurants the next.

Returning to Sydney in 2016, Jess says the time was right to head home, embracing the coastal lifestyle trekking, swimming and heading to local markets.

Admitting her strength and weakness might both be the same – Jess says she could be described as a ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ – but is confident this overarching skill set across different cuisines and techniques could take her all the way to the MasterChef Grand finale.

Admiring the culinary creations of Ben Shewry, Clare Smyth, Dominique Crenn and the late Anthony Bourdain, Jess says that following the competition she hopes to gain experience in professional kitchens, before ultimately opening her own market stall. Hoping to sell her own butters, sauces and spice mixes, she would also one day love to open a wine bar serving small plates.