Junior MasterChef Australia — affectionately nicknamed “MasterChef Kids” — put budding home cooks aged 8 to 14 in the kitchen to compete for cash prizes and the coveted junior title. Across three seasons spanning a decade, three young chefs rose to the top. Here’s the complete winners list, contestant details, judges and prize breakdown.
Quick Reference: All Junior MasterChef Australia Winners
| Season | Year | Winner | Age | State | Runner-up | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010 | Isabella Bliss | 12 | Queensland/NSW* | Jack Lark | $15,000 |
| 2 | 2011 | Greta Yaxley | 11 | Western Australia | Jack Kibble | Not publicly disclosed |
| 3 | 2020 | Georgia Eris | 11 | Victoria | Carter Gardner & Filo Barsoum (joint) | $25,000 |
*Sources vary slightly on Isabella Bliss’s home state at the time.
Season 1 (2010): Isabella Bliss
Junior MasterChef Australia’s very first season aired from 12 September to 15 November 2010 on Network 10, featuring 12 finalists selected from over 5,500 young applicants across the country.
Isabella Bliss, then 12 years old, won the season by defeating fellow finalist Jack Lark in a nail-biting grand finale, scoring 97 points to his 94. The final challenge was a two-part battle: an Invention Test (where Isabella’s Scallops with Garlic Custard, Seaweed Broth and Lemon and Blood Orange Jelly scored 47/50) followed by a Pressure Test recreating pastry chef Adriano Zumbo’s “Pear Perfection” dessert.
Isabella entered the competition alongside her twin sister Sofia, who also made the Top 3 — making it a memorable family affair. As the winner, Isabella took home a MasterChef trophy and $15,000, while Jack Lark received $10,000 for second place, and Sofia Bliss along with contestant Siena Johnston shared $5,000 for third-fourth place.
Judges: Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, Matt Preston, Anna Gare
Season 2 (2011): Greta Yaxley
Season 2 premiered on 25 September 2011 and ran for 21 episodes, featuring a Top 20 lineup and even a guest appearance from then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Greta Yaxley, an 11-year-old from Claremont, Western Australia, won the title on 23 November 2011, beating runner-up Jack Kibble from Queensland. The grand finale featured a fruit dessert challenge judged by Donna Hay, followed by a Pressure Test recreating a dish by legendary chef Tetsuya Wakuda. Greta delivered near-perfect scores across both rounds, including three perfect 10s in the final Pressure Test, to clinch the win.
Throughout the season, Greta was a standout performer — she won the Mystery Box conveyor-belt challenge just before the finale and consistently impressed judges with dishes like vanilla scallops and ginger pork.
Judges: Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, Matt Moran, Anna Gare (Matt Preston stepped back this season)
Season 3 (2020): Georgia Eris
After a nine-year hiatus, Junior MasterChef Australia returned on 11 October 2020 with a revamped judging panel and an expanded age range (9–14 years). The season aired amid COVID-19 restrictions, following the same health protocols used for MasterChef Australia’s “Back to Win” season.
Georgia Eris, an 11-year-old from Victoria, won the title on 9 November 2020, taking home $25,000 in prize money. She triumphed over runners-up Carter Gardner and Filo Barsoum, who each received $5,000. Georgia’s winning dish, proudly showcasing her Sri Lankan heritage, included a pork curry, cashew curry, eggplant curry, yellow rice, pappadums and cucumber raita — plus a standout dessert called “Tropical Mess” that judge Melissa Leong called an “utter triumph.”
One notable contestant this season was Ryan Cheliah, the son of MasterChef Australia Season 10 winner Sashi Cheliah.
Judges: Andy Allen, Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo
Junior MasterChef Australia: Season-by-Season Comparison
| Detail | Season 1 (2010) | Season 2 (2011) | Season 3 (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episodes | 17 | 21 | 13 |
| Contestants | 12 (finals) | 20 | 14 |
| Age range | 8–12 | 8–12 | 9–14 |
| Winner’s prize | $15,000 | Undisclosed | $25,000 |
Junior MasterChef Judges Across Seasons
- Seasons 1–2: Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Anna Gare were the constants, with Matt Preston judging Season 1 and Matt Moran replacing him for Season 2
- Season 3: A completely new panel took over — Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo, mirroring the adult MasterChef Australia judging lineup of that era
FAQs
Who won the first season of Junior MasterChef Australia? Isabella Bliss, a 12-year-old, won Season 1 in 2010.
How much prize money do Junior MasterChef Australia winners get? It has varied by season — Isabella Bliss won $15,000, while Georgia Eris took home $25,000 in Season 3.
Is there a Season 4 of Junior MasterChef Australia? As of the most recent reports, no new season has aired since Season 3 in 2020, though the franchise has returned before after long gaps.
Who are the judges of Junior MasterChef Australia? Judges have included Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, Matt Preston, Anna Gare, Matt Moran (early seasons) and Andy Allen, Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo (Season 3).