Georgia whose grandmother Charmaine hails from Sri Lanka Wins Junior MasterChef Australia

After an entertaining and heartwarming season, Georgia won the Junior MasterChef  finale in Australia’s Channel 10 reality show.

Georgia, 11, took out the title and $25,000 prize money during Monday night’s grand final, with Filo and Carter finishing as runners-up and receiving $5,000 each.

Proud of her Sri Lankan heritage, Georgia cooked a pork curry, cashew curry, eggplant curry, plus yellow rice, pappadums and cucumber raita for her main. Georgia whose maternal grandmother Charmaine hails from Sri Lanka is cited as a major influence on Georgia's culinary leanings. Beating off stiff competition from 13 other contestants aged just 9-14 years.

“I’m so surprised. From the beginning my goal was just to make it past the first week,” Georgia said after learning she had won the competition. “To win this competition was such a surprise.”

The challenge was to create a two-course meal for four, with 90 minutes for each course, a main and a dessert. Who was the fourth place at the table for this fancy meal? It was the contestants' mums, who were all equally proud and nervous for their children.

Georgia made a trio of Sri Lankan curries, then aimed for a toasted coconut ice cream slice. Carter made a charcoal-crusted lamb and vanilla bean panna cotta. And Filo made fried prawns and a hazelnut cake.

The contestants were equally praised for their mains, although Carter's cauliflower puree was slightly undercooked, and Georgia was a skerrick ahead at the end of the mains, according to Jock Zonfrillo.

For their desserts, Georgia's cook didn't go as planned, with her crumb falling apart and her ice cream not set enough, so she retitled it a "Tropical Mess".

After winning, Georgia said she’s not too sure what she’ll do with the $25,000 prize money, but she will definitely use it for something fun and food-related. 

“I’ll have access to it when I’m 18 so I have seven years to think about it,” she said. “I’m thinking travel and starting a food stall.”

“I’m very close to my Nanna and my Papa,”Georgia said on the Channel 10 reality show, explaining she’s also learnt to make dishes that reflect her cultural heritage.  “They’re both Sri Lankan. My Nanna taught me how to make lots of different Sri Lankan food.”

- Courtesy Channel 10