Age: 29

South Australia

Instagram: @laurasharrad 

Previous seasons & places: Season 6, placed 2nd; Season 12, placed 2nd

Adelaide chef Laura Sharrad hopes that third time will be the charm as she returns to her old stomping ground of the MasterChef Australia kitchen to get the job done. Coming tantalisingly close both in seasons 6 and 12, Laura knows what it takes to get all the way to finale, she simply needs to take the final step.

But this time things are different. This time, Laura has a whole new motivating force driving her: daughter Florence. Since becoming a mum in 2024, Laura’s decision to re-enter the kitchen is not one she has taken lightly, knowing the sacrifices she would need to make, and small moments missed. But with the support of husband and fellow chef Max Sharrad, Laura is energised by the prospect to make her family proud and inspired not to waste a single moment; to be an example for her daughter of chasing your dreams.

Stronger, wiser and more determined than ever, Laura has parlayed her skill and hard work over the years into an enviable food career. After season 6, Laura worked as a pastry chef alongside the late Jock Zonfrillo at his acclaimed three hatted restaurant Orana for two years, before moving to Andre’s Cucina & Polenta Bar, headed of course by Back To Win colleague, Andre Ursini, before she spent time at Hentley Farm in the Barossa Valley.

In 2019 Laura became co-owner of Adelaide’s successful pasta bar Nido, and followed it with a second venue in 2021, Fugazzi Bar & Dining, a New York inspired Italo-American Bar & Dining Room in the heart of Adelaide.

While her rich Italian heritage often underpins her dishes in the MasterChef Australia kitchen, pigeonhole Laura at your peril. Comfortable with both sweet and savoury and with a nuanced hand at layering of flavours, Laura is also well-versed in the use of Australian native ingredients.

With her talents spanning all corners of the kitchen, expect Laura Sharrad to bring out the big guns as she aims to take home the title of MasterChef Australia in 2025.