Age: 26

State: Victoria

Occupation: Insurance Services

Khristian Walker’s positive attitude in the kitchen is likely to propel him just as far as his skillset, but when the two combine in the right measure, he will be a force to behold.

Growing up in working-class Melbourne, Khristian witnessed a gritty side of life from a young age. He always knew he wanted more for himself and wasn’t afraid to put in the work to get it.

Khristian knows from experience that it’s not all about the cards you’re dealt in life, but how you play the hand. He is always ready to make the most of every opportunity and being in the MasterChef Australia kitchen is one of his biggest yet.

His mum sparked his passion for food, and Khristian recalls helping in the kitchen from around age 10. Not only did this pique his curiosity but gifted him a level of independence which was incredibly useful. His single mum worked 14-hour days to keep the family afloat, and independence meant Khristian could help care for his sister. Once the fire was lit, Khristian’s thirst for knowledge led him to continually level up his learning as a cook.

Jamie Oliver is amongst his all-time food heroes, and YouTube and social media content has been a big teacher, with Joshua Weissman another favourite. Alongside food, music has long been another creative passion for Khristian, with his guitar and songwriting akin to a form of therapy over the years.

This big-hearted cook loves nothing more than cooking up a Sunday roast to treat family and friends, and he gets so much satisfaction from bringing people together over a hearty meal.

Determined to be tenacious in the MasterChef Australia kitchen, Khristian will deliver big flavours - he loves meats, cooking over coals and Italian and Greek cuisine. However, he believes his true strength will be remaining calm and rising to whatever challenge is thrown his way.

His goal in the competition is to not only make his family proud, but to show his 12-year-old self that he is worth more than what others say; that he can achieve. Being a role model to others in his old shoes will drive him forward as he takes on the competition with gusto, with the dream of one day having his own panini shop.