Who are MKR's Maria and Bailey? What we know about the classy besties

They're confident they have what it takes.
Filed under feature.
MKR's Maria and Bailey

My Kitchen Rules (MKR) 2025 has been packed with kitchen drama as contestants battle for the crown, but the only team truly playing strategically is Maria and Bailey.

Maria and Bailey have consistently scored strategically throughout the competition, but were only called out on it during the Ultimate Instant Restaurant, when the contestants had to score publicly.

“For everybody to blame and redirect the attention. But everyone is doing it. And then we saw Mark, score higher, for some people to make sure that others, aka Michael and Riley, were out of the competition or at the lower end. So it goes in both ways. You can overscore someone, and that’s still strategic,” Bailey told Chattr.

If there’s one thing for certain about Bailey and Maria, it’s their confidence. The successful friends know that they’re skilled in cooking, and don’t mince their words with the other contestants.

Here’s everything you need to know about MKR’s Maria and Bailey.

Maria owns an Adelaide-based cookie and brownie business called Blondies Bakehouse. She started the business from her own kitchen in 2018 and now sells them at a number of cafes, at pop-ups and from her website.

The delicious-looking stuffed treats start from $7 each and have a number of flavours, including Reese Chocolate, Biscoff and Red Velvet.

She also ships them anywhere in Australia, so if you’re interested in trying Maria’s cookies, you can purchase them from her website here.

What do Bailey and Maria do for work?

Bailey and Maria are known on MKR as successful business people, so what do they actually do for work?

Maria concentrates solely on her cookie business, while Bailey runs five companies and also serves as the general manager of a recruitment company. 

How did Maria and Bailey go in their Instant Restaurants?

Alongside Lol and Lil, Maria and Bailey are the only other team that have competed in all three Instant Restaurant rounds, which could serve as an advantage come the semi-finals.

In the first round, they came third with a score of 68 out of 110, but in the second round, they barely scraped through, placing second last with 62 out of 110.

However, it was enough to get them through to the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round, where they came third with 64 out of 110.

MKR's Maria and Bailey
Maria and Bailey. Image: Seven.

Who are Maria and Bailey up against in the semi-finals?

The four teams that are competing in the semi-finals are Maria and Bailey, Lol and Lil, Justin and Will and Danielle and Marko.

On Sunday, Justin and Will will take on Danielle and Marko, then Maria and Bailey will cook off against Lol and Lil the following night. Whichever team wins each battle will face the other in the MKR grand finale.

My Kitchen Rules (MKR) airs on Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:30pm on Channel 7 and 7Plus.

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Tagged: Featured, Reality TV, TV, Seven, My Kitchen Rules

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Danica Baker

Danica is our deputy editor who followed her parent’s career advice of “do what you love”, which for her, involves watching a whole lot of reality TV. You'll find her bylines on Rolling Stone, W...
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