MasterChef‘s latest eliminated contestant, 29-year-old bar manager Courtney Roulston, talks about how the cooking competition gave her the “kick up the bum” she needed to realise her dream.
You applied for the first season of MasterChef. What was it like auditioning again and why do you think you made it further this time?
I actually followed up my application this year. I realised that after the first application you have to ring people and make sure it all goes through. So I think maybe that made a difference.
What is the easiest part about being on a show like this?
The easiest thing is you’re competing and doing something that you love doing. I love cooking. So that made it easy for me. I had the job for so many years that being able to experience a different environment and do what I love is just amazing.
Doing the same job for a long time can become quite boring and monotonous. Even though there’s waiting around and everything with television, at least I’m not staring at the clock waiting to finish.
Besides eliminations, were there any particular aspects of the show you didn’t like?
I’ve really enjoyed my time here. I don’t really have much to complain about at all. I mean there are times when it’s tough but it’s all been a really good experience for me and really interesting in comparison to my bar job.
It was a nice change. I was living a fairly mundane life so it’s exciting to start MasterChef so there have been no complaints even when we have to wait around and that sort of thing.
Who do you think is going to win the competition and why?
Marion. I just think she covers such a broad range of cooking techniques and flavours. Her mum is Thai, and she’s taught her a lot, and she’s studied food. Her boyfriend is into a winery I think so they’re looking at opening a restaurant together.
They know how to match food with wine and she just covers a broad range of things which is important for MasterChef, because you can’t just be good at one thing or something else will let you down.
Have you been watching much of the show when it plays back?
Yeah I have, it’s hard not to! It’s on nearly every night.
Do people come across on screen the same way they do in the house?
They do generally. I mean, what you see on TV is half of the time that we spend with each other. They are all really funny and they cut a lot of that out because it’s a serious show. I think generally people come across the same. I don’t think the editing can make you a monster if you’re not. I think what you see is what you get.
Do you think you came across fairly accurately?
It was funny watching myself. A lot of my friends have said I look really serious and nervous and I was serious because it is a nerve-wracking experience. If you’re nervous and that’s what you’re feeling at the time then that’s what’s going to come across.
Who were you closest within the house andwhy?
I was friends with everyone. I think I was a little closer to Kate because we were roomed together in top 50 but I never really partnered off with anyone. I mean, I grew up with four brothers on a farm and worked in a bar for so long that I’m used to getting along with everyone.
You said your girlfriend encouraged you to follow up your application and that taught you to “do things for yourself”.
Yes. She knew I didn’t ring the first time I applied so she pushed me to follow it up. I think she may have even called herself to make sure my application was received.
What else have you learnt from your time on MasterChef?
Just the whole experience for me was about getting out there. Twelve years working on the same job with the same customers, day in and day out you kind of get stuck talking to the same sort of people. So moving away from a lot of that was good.
I had my friends from school but I didn’t really hang around my friends from work. So now I’m not afraid to go and talk to people now, whereas before I was a little bit shy. I think I hadn’t gone out there before. So it’s made me get out there a bit more and be a bit more social.
How long have you been with your girlfriend?
About three years.
Where and how did you guys meet?
We both played soccer together. We still play now, obviously not while I’m in here. We have a good team so I hope to be playing when I’m 60! There are a few people in the team that are 60 so I hope I’m still running around when I’m their age as well.
Where to now?
I think that’s probably the best thing that has come out of the show, albeit it being for a short amount of time. Now I know I don’t want to go back to my job. I really needed a kick up the bum to get out of the bowling club.
I mean, it’s a good job and an easy job that I like doing and it made it hard to leave. But I knew there were bigger and better things out there for me to do instead of wasting time. If I didn’t get out I would still be there when I’m 50.
Getting on the show has made me get out of there and I have no plans to go back and do that. I still want to start my catering company, whether that be soon or whether I have to go off and do a TAFE course or something. But I’ve really got fire in the belly to go and get my catering started.
I’m not wasting any more years looking at the clock half the day. I want to get out of there. The few cooking jobs I have done, you don’t even look at the clock. You can be there forever and not even realise.
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