Gemma for MasterChef 2025 Heat 1 / BBC
Age: 32
Occupation: Head of Business Development
From: London via Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia
How would you describe your style of cooking?
“I’d say my cooking is a mash-up of where I’ve lived and where I’m from – East meets West, with big flavours and plenty of spice. I love going all in, experimenting in the kitchen, and making food that’s truly delicious.
“I’m inspired by everything from Asian street food to high end restaurants and cheeky late-night takeaway cravings. I’m also a bit of a cookbook addict I’ll happily devour anything from anywhere in the world. It keeps things fresh and pushes me to try new things in the kitchen.
“My style is very much influenced by where I grew up. Malaysia is such a melting pot of cultures – it has in my opinion the best food in the world. I try to tap into as many cultures as possible and try to create yummy, strong-flavoured dishes that I will crave again and again.”
What is your favourite ingredient to cook with and why?
“My favourite ingredient is the tomato. They’re absolute magic. Sweet, tangy, savoury there’s just so much going on with them. You can chuck them in almost anything and suddenly it tastes like you knew what you were doing.”
Why did you enter MasterChef this year?
“I went for MasterChef this year because I’ve always wanted to. I’ve been glued to the show for years, and I thought, why not? Let’s see what happens if I actually give it a go. It’s terrifying and brilliant all at once.”
MasterChef returns Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One.
