Meghan Sussex will appear as a surprise guest judge on MasterChef Australia this Sunday, setting an immunity challenge for the final four contestants.

Petro Papathomas and Casper Kenworthy told TV WEEK that her arrival caught them completely off guard. Their first-hand experience offers a striking contrast to the hostile image often promoted by sections of the press.

For the challenge, Meghan presented the contestants with a Mystery Box containing ingredients she enjoys cooking with, including carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, local Australian honey, macadamias, quince, lemons, apples, mandarins and strawberries. She described herself as a “California girl” who enjoys grilled fish, grilled meats and plenty of citrus.

Advertisement

“I remember watching her in Suits,” former accountant Petro, 30, tells TV WEEK. “I was a bit starstruck. She was really genuine. There’s been so much written about her, you kind of don’t know what to believe, but I loved her. She was so kind and talks really intelligently about food as well.”

Casper echoed Petro’s sentiments, saying the Duchess of Sussex was not only a delight to meet but brought an unexpected sense of calm to the kitchen.

“Never in a million years would you think that she would be on MasterChef, and she was one of our favourite judges as well,” technology consultant Casper, 28, tells TV WEEK. “She was interested in what you were doing and wanting to chat.”

TV WEEK

The People Who Actually Meet Meghan Tell a Different Story

The people who have actually met and worked with Meghan Sussex often describe the same qualities: warmth, kindness, intelligence and genuine curiosity. That stands in sharp contrast to the hostile image built by commentators who have never spent time with her.

Petro admitted that years of conflicting coverage left him unsure what to believe. Meeting Meghan gave him something the tabloid narrative could not: direct experience. He found her kind, thoughtful and genuinely knowledgeable about food. Casper also described her as calm, engaged and interested in what the contestants were doing.

Again and again, people who work with Meghan or meet her in person speak positively about the experience. Meanwhile, those most committed to portraying her as difficult continue dissecting every appearance from a distance.

The irony is that hate-watching only expands her reach. Critics may insist she is irrelevant, but they still watch, record and analyse everything she does. Their obsession keeps her visible while the testimony of people who have met her continues to undermine the caricature they are trying to preserve.

Discover more from Feminegra

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.