MasterChef Brasil premiered on Band in September 2014, quickly becoming one of Brazil’s biggest television phenomena and spawning an enormous family of spin-offs — from Junior and Professional editions to Celebrity and even a 60+ “MasterChef +” format. Here’s the complete breakdown of the show’s first three champions.
Quick Reference: MasterChef Brasil Winners (Season 1–3)
| Temporada | Ano | Vencedor/a | Prêmio | Destaque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014 | Elisa Fernandes | R$ 150.000 | Primeira campeã |
| 2 | 2015–2016 | Izabel Alvares | R$ 150.000 | Voltou de repescagem |
| 3 | — | Leo Young | R$ 150.000 | Primeiro homem campeão |
MasterChef Brasil: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Network | Band (Rede Bandeirantes) |
| Premiere | 2 September 2014 |
| Prize Money | R$ 150,000 + MasterChef trophy |
| Judges | Érick Jacquin, Paola Carosella, Henrique Fogaça (original trio) |
Season 1 (2014): Elisa Fernandes
MasterChef Brasil premiered on 2 September 2014, immediately becoming a national sensation. Elisa Fernandes, from São Paulo, was crowned the very first MasterChef Brasil champion, taking home R$150,000 and the coveted trophy.
After her win, Elisa took her culinary journey international — she moved to France to study gastronomy formally and spent three years working in Michelin-starred restaurants. She later returned to Brazil and spent roughly five years running her own restaurant, Clos Wine Bar & Bistrô, in São Paulo.
Judges: Érick Jacquin, Paola Carosella, Henrique Fogaça
Season 2 (2015–2016): Izabel Alvares
Season 2 crowned Izabel Alvares, a former events producer from Rio de Janeiro, as champion — in a particularly dramatic storyline, she had to fight her way back into the competition through a repescagem (second-chance/wildcard round) before ultimately securing the win.
Izabel used part of her R$150,000 prize to pivot her career entirely, launching her own e-commerce business, Magrela Shop, specializing in low-carb products.
Judges: Érick Jacquin, Paola Carosella, Henrique Fogaça
Season 3: Leo Young
Leo Young made history as the first male winner of MasterChef Brasil, breaking a streak of two consecutive female champions. He went on to become executive chef and partner of a popular Japanese restaurant in São Paulo, Tatá Sushi, and has also built a massive social media following of over 900,000 followers.
Judges: Érick Jacquin, Paola Carosella, Henrique Fogaça
MasterChef Brasil: The Bigger Picture (All Winners Through Recent Seasons)
The franchise has continued strong for over a decade, now up to 13+ seasons of the main show alone:
| Temporada | Vencedor/a |
|---|---|
| 4 | Michele Crispim |
| 10 | Ana Carolina |
| 11 (2024) | José Roberto |
| 12 | Daniela Dantas |
| 13 | Jéssica Cechella |
MasterChef Brasil’s Massive Spin-off Family
Few MasterChef franchises worldwide have produced as many spin-offs as Brazil:
| Spin-off | Notable Winners |
|---|---|
| MasterChef Profissionais (chefs) | Dayse Paparoto (S1, 2016), Pablo Oazen (S2, 2017), Rafael Gomes (S3, 2018) |
| MasterChef Junior | Larissa, 9 years old (Season 2) |
| MasterChef: A Revanche | All-star returning contestants from the first six seasons |
| MasterChef + (60+ cooks) | Vitor Bourguignon (S1, 2019), Eduardo Maria do Carmo (S2) |
| MasterChef Celebridades | Astro Ribeiro (S1, 2022), Eduardo de Mingo (S2, 2023) |
| MasterChef Confeitaria (pastry) | Cesar Yukio (S1, 2024), Leo Salles (S2, 2025) |
| MasterChef Creators | A newer digital-influencer-focused edition |
Fun Facts About MasterChef Brasil
- First male champion: Leo Young (Season 3) broke the streak of female winners from Seasons 1 and 2
- International journey: Elisa Fernandes (Season 1) studied gastronomy in France and worked in Michelin-starred kitchens after her win
- Wildcard comeback: Izabel Alvares (Season 2) is one of the only champions to win after returning through a repescagem round
- Huge franchise family: Brazil has produced at least seven distinct MasterChef spin-offs, more than almost any other country
FAQs
Who won the first season of MasterChef Brasil? Elisa Fernandes, from São Paulo, won Season 1 in 2014.
Who was the first male winner of MasterChef Brasil? Leo Young, who won Season 3.
How much prize money do MasterChef Brasil winners receive? R$150,000, along with the MasterChef trophy.
Who are the original judges of MasterChef Brasil? Érick Jacquin, Paola Carosella, and Henrique Fogaça formed the iconic original judging panel.
How many MasterChef Brasil spin-offs exist? At least seven, including Junior, Professionals, +, Celebrities, Confectionery (Confeitaria), Creators, and the all-star “A Revanche” edition.