Nat Thaipun
Nathale Thaipun | |
|---|---|
| Born | between 1995 and 1996 Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Culinary professional, barista |
| Known for | Winner of MasterChef Australia (season 16) |
Nathale Thaipun (born between 1995 and 1996) is an Australian culinary professional and barista, recognized primarily for her victory in the 16th season of MasterChef Australia in 2024.
Early life
Raised in regional Victoria by Thai immigrant parents, Thaipun attended Geelong Grammar School as a boarding student, where she also held the position of Athletics Captain. Her parents, Han and Nutsiree, operated a restaurant, which provided her with early exposure to the culinary world; alongside her two brothers, she developed cooking skills independently while her parents managed their establishment.
Personal life
Thaipun participates in dynamic sports including snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and skydiving. She has accumulated more than 90 tattoos that symbolize her Thai background and experiences from traveling.
Career
Throughout her professional journey, Thaipun has undertaken various roles such as barista, business manager, restaurant proprietor, and fundraiser for Greenpeace.
In 2019, during her time in Wānaka, New Zealand, she co-founded "Wanakup," a reusable coffee cup initiative distributed through cafes based on a "borrow, buy, return" model. This innovation successfully replaced upwards of 450,000 disposable cups within two years and was honored with a Local Initiative Award.
Her culinary experience includes working alongside renowned chefs like Jamie Oliver and Claire Smyth, as well as at Vue de Monde.
In January 2025, Thaipun revealed plans to publish her first cookbook titled Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere, with a release date set for October 2025.
MasterChef
Thaipun participated in the 16th edition of MasterChef Australia in 2024. Early in the competition, she secured the only immunity pin and earned a week-long internship with Jamie Oliver in London. While filming in Hong Kong, chef Vicky Cheng extended a job offer to her.
On 16 July 2024, she claimed victory in the grand finale against Tasmanian butcher Josh Perry with a score of 71 to 68 points. Her prizes included $250,000 and a residency at Alumni Restaurant located within the Crown Melbourne complex.