Billie McKay
Billie McKay | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 11, 1991 Bowraville, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, television personality |
| Known for | Winning MasterChef Australia (seasons 7 and 14) |
Billie McKay (born 11 July 1991) is a renowned Australian chef who claimed victory in the seventh season of MasterChef Australia in 2015. This achievement led to an opportunity to work at The Fat Duck, the prestigious three Michelin-starred restaurant owned by Heston Blumenthal in the United Kingdom. In 2022, she made history by becoming the first participant to win MasterChef Australia twice, securing the championship again during the fourteenth season, titled MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites.
Early life
Raised on a dairy farm located in Bowraville, New South Wales, McKay completed her education at Macksville High School. Prior to her participation in MasterChef, she was employed as a restaurant manager in Ballina, New South Wales.
Career
Winning her first MasterChef season awarded McKay $250,000, an Alfa Romeo Giulietta vehicle, and a recurring monthly feature in Delicious magazine. Following her success, she accepted an offer from Heston Blumenthal to join the team at The Fat Duck.
In 2019, McKay returned to MasterChef Australia as a mentor during its eleventh season, sharing the role with Matt Sinclair and Poh Ling Yeow. Her second appearance as a contestant came in 2022 on the fourteenth season, where she emerged victorious once more by besting Sarah Todd in the final round.