MasterChef Australia icon and Gold Logie 2025 nominee Poh Ling Yeow has defended this year’s MasterChef Australia: Back To Win winner, Laura Sharrad, after she copped favouritism allegations from viewers throughout the season.

ICYMI, season 17 of MasterChef Australia has officially come to a close with Sharrad officially nabbing the $250,000 prize. While this was supposed to be a glorious time of celebration, Sharrad’s victory has been marred by favouritism allegations from viewers who’ve accused the MasterChef Australia judging panel of giving her special treatment.

Allegations of favouritism for Sharrad surfaced at the start of the season, when folks noticed that the season six star was copping more screentime than her peers. As a result, some viewers believed that this could be a clue to her winning the show or her gaining some kind of special treatment from production and/or the judges.
Loz in all her glory!! (Image source: 10Play / MasterChef Australia: Back To Win)
Speaking to PEDESTRIAN.TV earlier in the season, fellow MasterChef Australia: Back To Win 2025 contestant Darrsh Clarke — who was unfortunately eliminated in episode 24 — dismissed allegations of favouritism, stating that the “judges make such a strong effort to stay impartial”.

“The judges make such a strong effort to stay impartial, and it’s such a hard job because they’ve got memory and experience,” he said.

“There’s no favouritism in terms of, you know, a narrative, or some conspiracy that one person’s meant to win.”

But despite his efforts to shut down these claims, folks still ran with the favouritism card up until Tuesday night’s grand finale.

Poh Ling Yeow defends Laura Sharrad from online hate and favouritism allegations

Right before Sharrad officially lifted that highly coveted MasterChef Australia trophy, MasterChef legend Poh Ling Yeow slammed folks who claimed favouritism, telling Refinery29 she was “baffled” by the hate train against the contestant.

“The thing that shocked me the most [when I became a judge was] how stringent and fair the whole judging process is,” Yeow told the publication.

“I think some [part] of me was a little bit clenched going into the job, wondering if I was going to find out all these dark secrets… I arrived to find that everything is so fair and so thorough.”
“I think people really struggle with watching highly confident females state what they want unapologetically.” (Image source: Instagram. @pohlingyeow)
Furthermore, Yeow suggested that Sharrad has been targeted by trolls due to how she’s been portrayed throughout season 17.

“I think people really struggle with watching highly confident females state what they want unapologetically. And Laura has always been that, right from the beginning,” Yeow continued.

“Laura has shown vulnerability, but I think it’s interesting that people only attach to the parts where she’s having success, or she’s having confidence, and when she’s able to achieve what she sets out to achieve. There’s something about that, that doesn’t resonate with people, because they want to see people struggle all the time.”

Unfortunately, during round one of the grand finale, viewers brutally dragged Sharrad for her round one dish — a potato risotto cooked in an amazing smoked pipi and rosemary broth — which landed her the same score as fellow finalist Callum Hann, who created a one-bite oyster with smoked bacon and rosemary oil, potato noodles and mandarin gel.

In the end, Sharrad ultimately nabbed the MasterChef Australia: Back To Win 2025 title after recreating Miko Aspiras‘ botanic garden dish.

That being said, it’s truly dishartening to see Sharrad’s hard work being reduced to “favouritism”, especially since she’s worked so hard for that trophy. After all, she’s been in two grand finales (season six and season 12).

Her victory was bound to come and was well deserved!!!