State: WA

Age: 22

Occupation: Digital Production Assistant

Few MasterChef contestants can boast a credit as a zombie in a John Butler Trio music video, but for Joe, it’s another string to his bow and now he can’t wait to showcase his skills in the MasterChef kitchen this season.

The youngest of three children, Joe was born and raised in Perth, completing a Bachelor’s degree in Screen Arts from Curtin University in 2017. But while his work making videos took him between companies, including the Fremantle Dockers, it was his love of cooking which drove him towards MasterChef. He was sitting with friends watching Sashi Cheliah take out the grand finale last season when they encouraged him to stop dreaming and start applying.

Joe admits while his mum is a great home cook, he’s mostly self-taught, learning through extensive reading, trial and error, TV programs and YouTube.

A self-described methodical and precise cook, Joe hopes he may thrive in a feared Pressure Test, capable of following intricate recipes. But while he excels at savoury cooking, he says desserts may be his weakness.

Inspired in the kitchen by Heston Blumenthal and Thomas Keller, Joe dreams of one day studying in Italy or France before returning to the beautiful Margaret River south of Perth where he can showcase his skills in his own restaurant.

Away from the kitchen Joe enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Lauren, playing the guitar, heading to the beach, and watching films – with A Clockwork Orange a firm favourite.