MasterChef Australia contestant Sav Perera has had a massive year, but she kept a big secret to herself. After being slammed with “health issue after health issue”, the reality TV star lost most of her hair and suffered damage to her kidneys.
In a post on Facebook, she detailed some of her health struggles, including getting the Chikungunya virus — spread via mosquitoes — which can cause sore joints, rash and fever. From that, she developed short-term arthritis and a temporary hair loss condition called telogen effluvium.
As if that wasn’t enough, Sav also had “irreversible damage” to her lymphatic system, leading to kidney damage. Yet, the chef hasn’t let the health battles break her spirit.
“2025 felt like 10 years within one year in many ways, but now that I am at the end, I look back at how incredible it actually has been. That despite the challenges, I’ve risen, I’ve fought back, I’ve surprised myself, and I’ve made time to give back a bit of the love that I so generously continue to receive,” Sav said. “Despite all the absolute quagmire of hellish stress thrown my way, I still find myself being grateful for all I managed to do.”
The MasterChef Australia star thanked her friends and family for their support, and said she would be too afraid to chase her dreams if it were not for them.
“My hope for myself for the coming year is that I dream bigger without fear, I chase those dreams relentlessly, that I know when to be still and take comfort in stillness, and I find another degree of kindness to show myself,” she added.
What did MasterChef’s Sav Perera achieve in 2025?
Despite Sav’s secret health battle, she still managed to do more than most during her jam-packed year. From competing on MasterChef Australia 2025 and becoming a host on MasterChef Sri Lanka, she also found time to cook.
Sav held a number of pop-up restaurants in Sri Lanka, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney, helmed different workshops and collaborated with brands. She also returned as the podcast host of You’re In Charge for a second season.
We wish Sav all the best and can’t wait to see what she does in 2026.
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