Age: 24

Occupation: Student

Faiza has strong skills in traditional Indian cooking and loves to bake beautiful cakes.

Faiza lives at home with her mother, father, brother and sister. Growing up, Faiza's grandma and mother taught her to cook. Her mum is a perfectionist and watches everything that she does in the kitchen.

"My food idol would have to be my mother. She has always cooked with such precision and passion. Although I learnt everything I know from my mother who is very panicky, I am the complete opposite to her and am a very calm soul in the kitchen. I think it's because I needed to be in order to maintain a balance between us."

She is part of an organisation called Aspire to Inspire which aims to empower kids to get involved in the community and follow their dreams. She was nominated for Young Muslim Australian of the year in 2007.

Currently completing a Law/Science degree, Faiza has worked at a supermarket for the past eight years, a job she loves, but she sees MasterChef Australia as an opportunity to ignite the spark she has inside.

"I hope I can inspire young people to see that life is there to be lived. Step out of your comfort zone and push the boundaries, or you'll never know what you can achieve."