MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong reveals she’s had ‘tough days’ after being lied about and ‘robbed of her identity’ by critics
MasterChef Australia‘s Melissa Leong has felt personally attacked at times since premiering as the first female judge in 2020.
The food critic has revealed there have definitely been some ‘less savoury sides’ of her new role.
Speaking to the Shameless podcast on Thursday, the -year-old said: ‘there is this incredible scrutiny women are put under when they dare to stick their head out above what is considered “acceptable”.’
There is this incredible scrutiny on women’: MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong speaks about her ‘tough days’ feeling put upon by lies and ‘robbed of identity’ by detractors
Melissa said she had also learnt that her new public profile from the prime-time gig came not only with supporters, but also detractors.
‘You have detractors. Rather disappointingly, women’s tabloid magazine that just want to look for some salacious angle to sell their publications with.
‘Peddling lies and dragging women down is so utterly disappointing,’ she added.
‘Peddling lies and dragging women down is so utterly disappointing’: Melissa said there was an ‘incredible scrutiny’ put on women who dared to go ‘above what is considered “acceptable”‘
‘A few weeks ago, I was dealing with the less savoury sides of this new job’: Melissa said she cried on a ‘tough day’ of seeing ‘salacious’ articles in the press about her
Melissa went on to say that she is proud to be an ‘outspoken women and a supporter of other woman’.
‘A few weeks ago I was dealing with the less savoury sides of this new job and it [a post by Shameless] meant a lot,’ she thanked hosts Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews.
Melissa ‘liked’ the post at the time, and commended the women for showing their support on their platform.
The original upload read: ‘Sexualise her, doubt her, over-expose her, criticise her, until people decide she’s just too annoying for the gig. A tale as old as time.’
‘On that day when you made that post, I cried, that was a really tough day. Feeling very put upon and feeling like lies were being perpetuated about your truth, that can feel like it robs your identity and you helped me feel seen in that moment.’
‘It meant a lot – I appreciate knowing and feeling there is a tremendous girl gang behind every woman going through something new and different,’ Melissa said.
‘I felt seen in that moment’: Melissa thanked Shameless hosts Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews for their ongoing support
Melissa says people still try to ‘compare and contrast’ the new and former judges on MasterChef, but she’s here to stay.
‘Those three judges created lightening in a bottle, so for that I will always be grateful.’
MasterChef Australia continues on Thursday night from 7.30pm on Channel 10
MasterChef Australia continues on Thursday night from 7.30pm on Channel 10. Pictured with Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo