The lovable Cath Collins was the first contestant sent home from MasterChef Australia Back to Win 2025, during the first elimination challenge.
The contestants were challenged to cook a dish reflecting their growth since their first MasterChef appearance. Cath chose a Japanese-inspired plate with grilled mushrooms, furikake, pickled wakame, smoked soy cream, and shiso gel. But grilling on a hibachi led to burnt mushrooms, and the judges deemed her dish the weakest, sending her home.
In a post-elimination interview, Cath told Chattr she was “devastated” to be the first contestant eliminated.
“[Going home] never, ever entered my mind going into the show. I was so organised. I was so ready for it.
“I had taken just about all of my kitchen into where we were staying. I had camp tables set up with all of my equipment,” she added, “I was ready for the long haul.”
“I think it’s still sitting with me that I was the first one out, that’s really hard for me. The expectation I had of myself going in — whilst I say I didn’t have any expectation — there was the expectation that I was never, ever going to go out first.”
How Cath felt when she found out she was eliminated from MasterChef 2025
Cath told Chattr that even when it was announced that she was in the bottom three, along with Tim and Samira, she didn’t think she was going home.
“I really had to gather myself. I was just devastated. That’s probably the first feeling I had, and then looking around, I could just feel it in the room. We were all, we’re all disappointed.”
However, Cath added that she tried to see the positive in the situation and focused on the privilege of being asked to be part of the MasterChef Australia Back to Win 2025 cast.
“Someone has to go first, you know, and that’s me. Reflecting afterwards, I’m just so proud and just really grateful.
“I did have a little bit of a laugh about myself thinking, ‘Well, you know what, someone has to go out first’. I remember saying to Rue, ‘I’m a sacrificial lamb’. But I tell you what, I’m a beautiful, slow-cooked lamb, that is so delicious,” she laughed.
“It just is what it is. But I’m grateful and feeling really proud.”
Post MasterChef Australia Back to Win 2025, the mum of two is focusing on her kitchen event company, Cath’s Kitchen.
“I do intimate cooking classes in my home. I’ve got a beautiful kitchen, so it’s really lovely, welcoming people here,” she explained.
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MasterChef Australia 2025 airs on Sundays at 7pm and Mondays -Wednesdays at 7:30pm on 10 and 10Play.
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