NSW, 30, Brand Developer

Renae Smith lives by these simple words: “If it doesn't make you happy then don't do it.”

Based in Newtown, Sydney, Renae grew up on the Central Coast in a happy, albeit strict, Jehovah’s Witness family.

A gifted student, Renae was home schooled for part of high school and by age 13 had successfully completed year 10. She joined the full-time workforce at age 15, as a legal secretary. Over the years she has indulged her love of study further, completing various courses and reading lots of textbooks.

Renae married at 18 and soon after had daughters Kyah, 12, and Paris,10, whom she adores.

Now amicably divorced, Renae also left the church six years ago, something she describes as an enormous challenge. However, her attitude of turning negatives into positives has only helped define the strong character she is today.

She remains close to her parents including her mother Joanna who is still a Jehovah’s Witness. Renae also had the opportunity to cater for her dad’s recent wedding which she loved.

After establishing her own national legal assistance firm, Renae became an executive paralegal in Sydney. In 2013 she opted for a new career path, launching her own events, PR and brand strategy business, The Atticism.

She loves eating out with her daughters who are 100 per cent behind mum’s MasterChef Australia bid. A regular at Sydney’s Eveleigh Farmers Market, Renae spends time with close friends whom she considers as family.

Looking up to Jamie Oliver (“his passion is just addictive”), Renae also loves Martin Benn and Christine Manfield, admiring their creativity and the fact they do what they do from such a place of passion and love.

Renae would love to open a unique café, as well as a healthy cooking school for kids around Newtown and Redfern in Sydney, where they would be taught to cook a meal to take home to feed their family that night.

“I don’t need accolades or fancy restaurants. I just want to do what makes me happy: to cook for a good cause, give back and share my food.”