NSW, 38, Full-Time Mum

For Linda Dalrymple, motivation and inspiration come in equal parts from the generations either side of her. With her heritage a mix of Laotian on her mother’s side and Chinese-Cambodian on her father’s, her unique cultural blend sets apart both her palate and food knowledge. Combine this background with raising her own two children, aged four and two, Linda is here to prove to her kids that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

With a love of cooking ingrained from childhood, Linda spent time in the kitchen with her grandma before she was five years old and learnt from her parents and aunties growing up. Linda is proud to still own and use her grandma’s cake tins.

Having travelled with her family back to Cambodia and Laos in her early 20s, Linda achieved a deeper appreciation of her family’s culture and how fortunate she is for her life in Australia.

Enjoying cooking both sweet and savoury, Linda loves eating out to try new things and at times recreates dishes at home. Baking is a passion for Linda and she loves cake decorating as well as throwing high tea parties for friends.

With support from husband Dave who will be cheering her on from home, this passionate perfectionist plans to inspire her two young children to embrace whatever life throws their way. She also figures that if she can handle the demands of two screaming toddlers, the pressure of the MasterChef kitchen will be a challenge she is well-equipped to handle.

Completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Management and Marketing) before starting her family, Linda worked in wealth management as a senior paraplanner before shifting to risk and compliance.

With an appetite that has shocked both friends and waiters alike, Linda believes her skill at balancing flavours and thinking on her feet will prove useful in the heat of the competition.

She dreams of having a South East Asian food truck and serving bento boxes that give people the chance to try out a whole range of dishes and flavours.