South Australia, 18, Health Science Student

Seldom without a smile, Laura Cassai lives, breathes and dreams food.

Growing up in Templestowe, Victoria, Laura now lives on a vineyard in McLaren Vale, South Australia, overlooking the Gulf of St Vincent after moving there in 2013.

Laura is close to her family, including stay at home mum Anita and dad Sandro, a carpenter and builder. Sister Natalie, 21, is studying to be an Italian and psychology teacher, while brother Aidan, 17, is at secondary school.

With a rich Italian heritage, Laura grew up under the watchful eyes of her nonna Maria and nonna Rosa.

Laura’s connection to her Italian roots strengthened as a child when the family lived in Tuscany for two years, when she was aged six to eight.

Laura says cooking is in her blood. Her early memories include sliding a chair up to the bench and standing on it to help mix the pasta dough with her mum and nonna.

Laura names mum Anita as her number one mentor.

“She has taught me everything I know, she has supported me in everything I have done and has shared a lifetime of knowledge.”

Deferring a Bachelor of Health Science degree at Flinders University, Laura had planned on adding a further teaching degree to spread health and food messages in schools.

Laura tragically lost her cousin David to an alleged one punch attack in Rye on New Year’s Eve 2012. His loss was incredibly tough for the whole family, but Laura says that his untimely death has encouraged her to follow her passion.

“I have used his positivity to continue through life and appreciate everything around me. It was his strength and the fact that he would have been so supportive of me that I decided to apply for MasterChef Australia.”

Laura’s food heroes include Jamie Oliver, Donna Hay and Antonio Carluccio. A massive fan of Stephanie’s Kitchen Garden Program, Laura hopes to become an ambassador.

Success would be to open an Italian style café or dessert bar near the beach in McLaren Vale. She would use only the best local produce to create dishes inspired by her Italian roots.