South Australia, 19, Medical Student

After wowing the judges at auditions with her signature Korean, American and Taiwanese inspired fried chicken, teenage medical sensation Yonina Yang, better known as YoYo, now hopes she has what it takes to make it all the way to finale week.

Buoyed by the support of her parents and younger brothers, the 19-year-old is determined not to let her age and status as this year’s youngest contestant, leave anyone in doubt that she’s here to claim the top prize.

Born in the United States, YoYo moved to China as a one-year-old before making the move to Adelaide two years later.

Crediting her father with teaching her spaghetti marinara and her mother with sweets and cakes, it was from her grandparents that YoYo learnt how to wrap dumplings, make steamed buns and scallion pancakes. YoYo admits her personal spice tolerance knows no bounds and acknowledges she’ll need to season carefully if she wants to keep the judges on her side.

As a second-year medical student, hoping to one day enter the competitive field of Orthopaedic surgery, YoYo has spent many long days studying on campus, organising events and running medical societies. It’s these experiences which led to her food dream, to open a university caféoffering nutritious, affordable and beautiful food.

When she’s not busy studying and cooking, YoYo enjoys making cards for friends and learning new musical instruments. She’s currently mastering the oboe, French horn, piano, viola, guitar and percussion, but still hopes to add the flute and Guzheng to her repertoire.

Inspired by MasterChef Australia legends Poh Ling Yeow and Reynold Poernomo, YoYo cites Gordon Ramsay’s no-nonsense personality and Clare Smyth’s success, as attributes she’d like to adopt as she takes her place in MasterChef Australia’s Top 24.