It seems just like yesterday that Nat Thaipun’s life changed forever when she won the title of MasterChef Australia 2024. But it’s actually been a year – and what better way to mark this moment than by returning to the kitchen that made her a household name.
Nat makes her MasterChef comeback on Sunday night, appearing on the all-stars ‘Back To Win’ season alongside fellow special guest and ex-winner, Julie Goodwin. The pair will be on hand to impart their own culinary wisdom and cheer on the remaining six contestants.
Since winning the cooking show last year, Nat has gone on to cook at restaurants and pop-ups, engage in exciting food collabs and further explore her Thai heritage and its connection to food and identity. She also has her own book coming out later this year, titled Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere by Nat Thaipun.
Today I sit down with Nat to hear all about her post-MasterChef journey, how culture shapes her cooking, and of course, what we can expect from her upcoming MasterChef appearance.
Thanks so much for chatting to me, Nat! I can’t believe it’s already been a year since you won MasterChef – time flies! Could you share how your life has changed professionally and personally since winning the cooking show in 2024?
It’s pretty wild, hey. I feel like I blinked and suddenly it’s been a whole year. Professionally, it’s been non-stop pop-ups across Australia and overseas, writing my first cookbook, working with people I’ve admired for years, and just pushing myself as a creative. Personally, it’s been beautiful and chaotic. I’ve grown a lot, like a lotttttt. Winning MasterChef Australia gave me a platform, but it also came with a lot of pressure and visibility. I’ve had to learn how to hold boundaries, look after my mental health, and stay grounded in what actually matters to me, which is food, storytelling, and community.
You’re back in the MasterChef kitchen on Sunday. How did it feel returning to the kitchen to film this episode – and that being alongside Julie Goodwin, too!
Honestly, it felt surreal. Walking back into that kitchen, knowing how much it’s changed my life, was emotional. There’s a lot of energy and memories in those walls. And being alongside Julie? Iconic. I have never met her before so it felt like a big deal personally for me. She was warm, generous, and made us all feel like we were coming home, and I guess because she’s so used to it now. Whereas for me it didn’t feel real, I wasn’t coming back as a guest chef.
This ‘Back To Win’ season is an all-stars version with MasterChef contestants from previous seasons. Who were you particularly excited to meet?
I was excited to meet a lot of them, but especially Callum, Ben & Depinder… but also selfishly Darrsh, Snez and Sav. They’ve all had such different journeys post-show and have continued to do incredible things. I’ve always respected the way they’ve used their platforms to champion culture and community. Also, honestly? Just a bunch of incredibly kind, creative people who’ve walked through that fire and come out the other side. There’s a lot of mutual respect.
Given these contestants’ seasoned experience in the food industry, how would you describe the standard in dishes that were served up?
Ridiculously high. These aren’t just people who can cook, they’re people who’ve built careers, restaurants, brands. You could see the polish, but also the soul and the thought in EVERYTHING. I think the most exciting thing was how everyone’s food really told a story; it wasn’t just about technique, it was about who they are now, and what they’ve learned since their season. I was blown away.
Since paying homage to your Thai heritage on MasterChef, you’ve travelled back to Thailand to explore more of the country and its cuisine. What role does your cultural identity play in how you navigate your cooking career, but also your sense of self and identity?
It’s everything. Being Thai-Australian, I’ve often felt like I sit in-between — not fully one, not fully the other. But food has helped me embrace that space, rather than try to explain or justify it. When I cook, I’m telling stories from both those worlds, especially the memory of my mum’s cooking, my grandma’s and family history stories, and also the Aussie BBQs and multicultural moments I grew up with. My career is becoming less about fitting into boxes and more about reclaiming that in-between space as I guess a creative playground?… Going back to Thailand and just spending more time with my family and opening up to my Mum and her opening up to me has really helped remind me of that, to honour the roots but also grow wildly from them.
One of the most viral moments from your time on MasterChef last year was when you spoke in Thai to your dad on the screen. How special was this moment for you, and how did you feel to see the immense positive reactions, especially from the Thai community?
That moment still makes me emotional. Partially because I have not seen my Dad cry much at all. It was one of the rare times I let my walls down on camera and honestly I couldn’t help it, I didn’t even see the cameras, I just felt how proud he was and my whole family were. I genuinely didn’t think that moment would be so cray, I guess because I am fluent in Thai and I only do speak to my parents in Thai, but for everyone else, I can see why they’re shocked. Speaking Thai to my dad wasn’t just about language, it was about love, heritage, and everything him and my Mum sacrificed for me to be here. Seeing how deeply it resonated with the Thai community, and so many other migrant families, was overwhelming in the best way. It reminded me that food and language carry so much healing and that representation matters so much, even in the small things. It can be a lonely world out there so I’m glad people felt a connection in their hearts. As cheesy as that sounds, sorry but not sorry!
As a South Asian woman, I’m very passionate about more cultural diversity on TV. With yourself having been a winner, and now MasterChef judge Poh Ling Yeow nominated for a Gold Logie, what are your thoughts on where Australia is at in terms of female Asian representation?
I think we’re seeing progress, finally — and it’s beautiful, but it’s also overdue. Seeing people like Poh — who’s paved the way for so many of us — getting the flowers she deserves is powerful. But we need to keep pushing. Representation can’t just be visual — it has to exist in the stories being told, the people making decisions behind the scenes, the way we’re allowed to take up space. I’m proud to be part of that shift, but I also know we’re only just getting started. The stories from our communities are rich, complex, and deserve the spotlight.
That said, being part of this shift isn’t always easy. Because I’m so riddled with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, I sometimes spiral into thinking I’ve only been chosen because I tick all the diversity boxes like I’m just the tokenistic woman. I’ve felt that even growing up, being picked for sports teams or named athletics captain at school. Even when I was winning races or doing well, I’d still second-guess whether I truly earned it and that’s kind of sad when I think about it. I once shared this with a close friend, and it really hurt them to hear me speak about myself that way, because they genuinely believed in me, my talent, and everything I do. But that’s the reality for many of us even when we’re living the dream, it can be hard to believe we deserve it.
And while I’m feeling fully energised by this conversation especially after just visiting the DIVA exhibit in Auckland [highly recommend] I want to say this clearly: recognition needs to be given to the cultures that have been practising these traditions for generations. To the women who raised us, who cooked these recipes for thousands of years, who held families and communities together only to have certain cuisines or techniques finally recognised when a white male coins it. That can feel hurtful and erasing. We have to honour the roots while celebrating the growth and that starts with giving credit where it’s always been due. BUT we are progressing and that’s where it’s important.
Finally, I’d love to know of any exciting projects you’re working on at the moment, and… what else can we expect from you for the rest of 2025?
There’s a lot brewing! My debut cookbook comes out later this year – it’s a HUGE love letter to Thai food, storytelling, and the idea of cooking with heart and how to use your human instincts to make cooking more approachable, especially cooking Thai food all over the world. I’ve got another season of my docu-series, For Now coming soon on YouTube on my recent time in Nipaluna [Hobart]. Hobart was pretty much my last pop-up for now as I’ve done a full year of them [total of 22, so I’m exhausted and have learnt WAYYY more than I thought I could ever learn].
I’m also working on other pretty exciting things that I probably can’t full disclose yet, but it involves TV and going to Thailand… not just anywhere in Thailand, but the heart of Thailand, regional areas, areas my family are all from and the rich culture and delicious food that comes out of it… Beyond that? Hopefully more storytelling, more food, and more moments that remind people that cooking is a form of care for self, for others, and for culture.
Nat Thaipun is a guest chef on MasterChef Australia: Back to Win on Sunday 27 July. Watch + Stream Free at 7pm on Channel 10.
Top photo – Pictured: Nat Thaipun, Source: Supplied/Channel 10
