Sabrina Muysken
It all started with a young girls love of classic country-style cooking. Dive into the future around a decade and the now 24-year-old Billie McKay has been rendered Australia’s latest MasterChef champion. Yet, competing for the coveted title, in an extravagant television grand finale, is something she never dreamed possible.
“I never thought in the beginning I’d be where I am right now. I honestly didn’t think I’d make it past the auditioning process,” Billie humbly admits.
“Slowly as every week went and the numbers began to get lower the thought was there “oh, maybe I do have chance” but I never told myself I was going to win. I took every day as it came and tried to put it out of my mind.”
Her modest nature, one of the many reasons she captured the hearts of Australian audiences, she attributes to an honest upbringing in rural NSW. Being raised on an idyllic dairy farm in Bowraville, Billie’s passion for food stemmed from a loving childhood.
“I grew up as part of a big family, where cooking was always an essential part of family gatherings. Cooking for my family has always been something that I’ve loved doing and a massive part of my life,” Billie recalls.
“It’s something that I’ve always enjoyed and tried to be creative at. So to be given the chance to cook on the show was something incredibly exciting for me.”
A long time devotee of Channel ten’s MasterChef juggernaut, Billie buried the niggling thought of applying in the back of her mind. Refusing to believe it was even a possible reality, it was her partner Hayden Suridge who finally convinced her to apply.
“One day he just put the computer right in front of me and told me to do it. He said, “what have you got to lose?” and I guess he was right, because it turned out pretty well,” Billie laughs.
‘Pretty well’ is a sizable understatement. Echoing a producer’s dream, the firm fan favourite came from four points behind to seize the culinary crown in a nail bitingly tense final ‘pressure’ round. Touted as the most difficult in MasterChef history, Billie and competitor Georgia Barnes were each given five hours to recreate renowned celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s incredibly intricate dessert, blow-torched golden sugar ball and all.
Billie’s stunning execution of the monumental culinary creation not only earned her the Aussie MasterChef crown but a once in a lifetime job offer from Blumenthal himself. The Australian MasterChef first wasn’t an inclusion amongst Billie’s impressive prize list but an entirely spontaneous offering from the superstar English chef on the night.
“In that final challenge I was just so focused on the dish at hand, I really wasn’t paying any attention to Heston at all,” Billie reflects.
“I completely forgot he was watching so when he offered me a job it just didn’t seem real. I still don’t quite believe it.”
Billie’s culinary skills weren’t her only impressive display in the finale. Her calm demeanour undoubtedly helped cinch her the crowning glory, along with Heston’s reverence. Throughout the entire series in fact, and despite many demanding challenges, Billie’s exterior remained seemingly unruffled. An attribute she says she gratefully inherited.
“I get my calmness from my mum. She has always been so calm and never makes a fuss about anything really. She’s always so positive and that attitude really helped in the competition. I went in with the mindset that it’s a job that needs doing. That’s what my mum has always taught us. I definitely have her to thank for that trait.”
It’s then unsurprising to hear that prior to entering the show Billie had moved from her childhood country home and settled in the ultra relaxed costal town of Ballina. Here she managed a local restaurant to which she credits much of her understanding of the food world. Seemingly overnight Billie was plucked from her unperturbed beach lifestyle and placed in front of a bevy of celebrity judges and television cameras. True to her nature, Billie wasn’t fazed by all of the sudden attention.
“To be honest I thought it would be more of a TV show but it really wasn’t. I just felt like I was in a local cooking competition and I really did forget about all the cameras being there,” Billie says.
“Being on the show was truly everything I hoped it would be and more. I’ve learnt so much from the show. I actually kind of wish I was still there.”
Looking into the distant future Billie dreams of one day opening her very own restaurant, one where she could serve authentic country recipes with a modern twist. Growing up in the country has inherently shaped her cooking style and is ultimately where her heart truly lies.
“I’ve never been really fussed with making fancy foods but as I’ve gone through the Masterchef process my style has really grown. My roots are still there in country style cooking but I want to bring that into a modern space and make country cooking a little more interesting.”
For now Billie’s eyes are firmly set on taking her next step, grasping this life changing opportunity with both hands and squeezing the absolute most out of the experience she possibly can. Jetting off to London early this month, Billie’s culinary dream continues September 22 at Heston’s three Michelin star restaurant, The Fat Duck.
“It’s such an amazing opportunity in the world of food. I’m just going to enjoy this next stage of my career and do the very best I can!”
