MasterChef judge Melissa Leong reveals what she learned about herself while filming Back To Win

The first chapter of Melissa Leong’s MasterChef story has just closed. 

On Saturday, the 38-year-old judge revealed the ‘life-changing lessons’ she learned about herself after filming Back To Win.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the food critic explained she has discovered her empathetic nature that helped connect with the contestants, her fellow judges and viewers.  

‘I’ve learned that empathy and vulnerability are the most powerful ways to connect with people,’ Melissa told the publication. 

She added: ‘It has been incredibly cathartic to receive such overwhelmingly positive feedback.’ 

Fans have grown to love the flamboyant and heartwarming judge, but she received a lot of hate when she first started her MasterChef journey. 

Speaking on the Shameless podcast in May, Melissa said she has been the target of ‘detractors’ and cruel trolls, admitting that some of their comments can ‘sting.’   

Melissa felt it was disappointing that people love to scrutinise others, and women in particular. 

‘With that comes a great army of wonderful humans who support you,’ Melissa said.  

‘And you have detractors. You have rather disappointingly women’s tabloid magazines who want to look for a salacious angle to sell their publications with and peddling lies and dragging women down.

‘It’s so utterly disappointing to me because I don’t believe in it… why would we do that to ourselves,’ she added. 

But Melissa says she tries her best to ‘brush off’ any negativity. 

‘It does sting, but I’m able to brush it off because I know it has a lot more to do with what’s going on with that person and their lives and their lens, than it really does have to do with who I am,’ she explained. 

 ‘I’m not perfect… the imperfection is powerful.’

Earlier that month, Melissa said that that it was important to remember that no-one is ‘universally’ loved, especially online. 

The food critic – who has previously revealed she has clinical depression – said she tries to be the best version of herself at all times. 

She told TV Week at the time: ‘When you can accept that, you can just focus on being the best version of yourself.’ 

She went on explain that her approach to dealing with publicity was just to focus on herself.

‘My strategy for being in this very public space is just to focus on what I do well,’ she said. ‘Be grateful for the positive aspects of what happens and just own who I am,’ she said.