MasterChef Bulgaria premiered on bTV in March 2015, quickly becoming one of Bulgaria’s most-watched culinary competitions, with a grand prize of 100,000 leva on the line. Here’s the complete breakdown of the show’s first two champions.
Quick Reference: MasterChef България Winners (Season 1–2)
| Сезон | Старт | Финал | Победител | Възраст | Награда |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 март 2015 | 2 юни 2015 | Симеон Червенков | 33 | 100 000 лв. |
| 2 | 1 март 2016 | 1 юни 2016 | Севда Димитрова | 39 | 100 000 лв. |
MasterChef България: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Network | bTV |
| Production (Seasons 1–4) | bTV and Constantin Entertainment |
| Premiere | 3 March 2015 |
| Prize Money | 100,000 leva |
| Judges | Andre Tokev, Victor Angelov, Peter Mihalchev |
Season 1 (2015): Simeon Chervenkov
MasterChef България premiered on bTV on 3 March 2015, running 40 episodes until its finale on 2 June 2015 — following months of nationwide casting that began back in December 2014, searching for Bulgaria’s most talented, creative and passionate home cooks.
Simeon Chervenkov, 33 years old, was crowned the country’s very first MasterChef champion, beating out a competitive field that included runner-up Elena Petreliyska and third-place finisher Avram Golemechkov. He took home the full prize of 100,000 leva.
Judges: Andre Tokev, Victor Angelov, Peter Mihalchev
Season 2 (2016): Sevda Dimitrova
Season 2 premiered on 1 March 2016 and ran for 42 episodes until 1 June 2016. Sevda Dimitrova, 39 years old, became Bulgaria’s second MasterChef champion, beating runner-up Evgeni Yordanov and third-place finisher Yoana Todorova.
Sevda’s win stands out as particularly historic — she was the franchise’s first-ever vegetarian champion, proving that meat-free dishes could compete and win against the field on pure technical skill and presentation. Unlike many winners who moved away from cooking after their victory, Sevda stayed deeply committed to her culinary passion, going on to open her own restaurant — one that even competed for a Michelin star in subsequent years.
Judges: Andre Tokev, Victor Angelov, Peter Mihalchev
MasterChef Bulgaria (България) Judges
The original judging trio remained remarkably consistent for years:
- Andre Tokev — judged from Season 1 through Season 7
- Peter Mihalchev — judged from Season 1 through Season 7
- Victor Angelov — judged Seasons 1 through 3
- Leo Bianchi — joined for Season 4
- Silvena Rowe — joined from Season 5 through Season 7
What Came After Season 2? The Full Winners Timeline
MasterChef България has continued for eight total seasons, with prize money remaining consistent at 100,000 leva throughout:
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 3 | Bozhana Katsarova |
| 4 | Stanislav Raychev |
| 5 | Radka Bulman |
| 6 | Ivaylo Spasov |
| 7 | Maria Zhekova |
| 8 | Marianna Alexandrova |
Season 6 winner Ivaylo Spasov made headlines after his victory for his entrepreneurial ambitions — he went on to open his own döner shop in central Sofia, focused on using fresh beef and lamb rather than the pre-frozen meat common in the market, timing his launch to coincide with the start of Season 7.
Fun Facts About MasterChef България
- First vegetarian champion: Sevda Dimitrova (Season 2) proved meat-free cooking could win the whole competition
- Consistent prize: 100,000 leva has remained the standard cash prize across all eight seasons
- Long-serving judges: Andre Tokev and Peter Mihalchev judged continuously for seven consecutive seasons
- Entrepreneurial winners: Most champions have gone on to open their own restaurants or food businesses with their winnings
FAQs
Who won the first season of MasterChef България? Simeon Chervenkov, 33, won Season 1 in June 2015.
Who won MasterChef България Season 2? Sevda Dimitrova, 39, won in June 2016, becoming the show’s first vegetarian champion.
How much prize money do MasterChef България winners receive? 100,000 leva, consistent across all eight seasons.
Who are the judges of MasterChef България? Andre Tokev and Peter Mihalchev have judged the most seasons, alongside Victor Angelov (early seasons) and Silvena Rowe (later seasons).
How many total seasons has MasterChef България produced? Eight seasons, with the most recent champion being Marianna Alexandrova.