WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?

From Whitney Miller in 2010 to Grant Gillion in 2023, what did the previous winners of MasterChef US go on to do ?

The 14th series of MasterChef US grips viewers with intense cooking challenges. Fans follow not just current contestants, but also wonder where past winners ended up. Many left their old jobs to pursue culinary careers, while some remained with their original professions. This variety in paths enriches the MasterChef legacy. So from Whitney Miller in 2010 to Grant Gillion in 2023, what did the previous winners of MasterChef US go on to do ?

L-R: Judges Graham Elliot, Gordon Ramsay and Joe Bastianich with winner Whitney Miller


Whitney Miller (S1)

Whiney won the first series of MasterChef back in 2010 with her southern cuisine with a modern twist. She went on to published her first cookbook, "Modern Hospitality: Simple Recipes with Southern Charm", before working as a private chef, food stylist, and recipe developer. She has released a second cookbook and contributes to food and lifestyle magazines.

Jennifer Behm (S2)

Jennifer was the second winner in 2011, with her elevated comfort food and contemporary American cuisine. After winning she launched a catering company, Pink Martini Catering, then went on to co-own Red Fin Crudo in Rhode Island with her husband and participate in various food events and cooking demonstrations.

Christine Ha (S3)

Christine was the third winner of MasterChef in 2012 with her Asian and American comfort food. She then published her cookbook, "Recipes from My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food” and own two restaurants in Houston, The Blind Goat and Xin Chao. Christina advocates for visually impaired individuals and appears in culinary events and TV shows.

Luca Manfé (S4)

Back in 2013, Luca won with his standout style of traditional Italian cuisine with a contemporary approach. He went on to released a cookbook, "My Italian Kitchen: Favorite Family Recipes” and work as a private chef, hosting pop-up dining experiences, and running a catering company. Luc also participates in culinary events and cooking classes.

L-R: Gordon Ramsay, Claudia, Christina Tosi and Graham Elliot


Courtney Lapresi (S5)

Courntey, with a focus on presentation, won MasterChef in 2014, with her elegant, sophisticated dishes – and published her cookbook, "Everyday Fancy: 65 Easy, Elegant Recipes for Meals, Snacks, Sweets, and Drinks." However, she chose to step away from the culinary world to work in sales and marketing.

Claudia Sandoval (S6)

In 2015, Claudia was announced the winner with her authentic Mexican cuisine. She released her cookbook, "Claudia's Cocina: A Taste of Mexico" and went on to work as a private chef, food consultant, and culinary judge on various cooking shows, including "MasterChef Latino."

Shaun O'Neale (S7)

Modern American cuisine with a focus on bold flavors helped Shuan win in 2016. He published his cookbook, "My Modern American Table: Recipes for Inspired Home Cooks” and went on to work as a private chef, DJ, and culinary consultant.

Dino Angelo Luciano (S8)

Dino won MasterChef in 2017 with his Italian cuisine with a modern, often vegan twist. After winning he pursued a career as a private chef and advocate for vegan and sustainable food.

2021 Winner Kelsey


Gerron Hurt (S9)

2018 saw Gerron win MasterChef with his Southern comfort food with a modern flair. He went on to launch a catering company and work as a private chef and culinary instructor. He also participates in food festivals and cooking demonstrations.

Dorian Hunter (S10)

Southern cuisine won again in 2019 when Dorian brought her gourmet touch. After winning she began working on her own line of spices and a cookbook, a career as a private chef and caterer, and hosting cooking classes and pop-up dining events.

Kelsey Murphy (S11)

Kelsey brought her elegant, family-friendly dishes with a modern twist to the table in 2021. Winning after covid affected the 2020 show, she worked on her culinary projects, as a private chef, culinary instructor, and appeared in various cooking events and demonstrations.

Dara Yu (S12)

In 2022, Dara won MasterChef with her modern fusion cuisine with Asian influences. She continued to pursue culinary endeavors, including actively engaging in pop-up events, and working as a private chef.

L-R: Host/judge Gordon Ramsay and contestant Grant with judges Joe Bastianich and Aarón Sánchez


Grant Gillon (S13)

Last year, 2023, saw a bold, creative take on classic American dishes when Grant won. In the last year he has started working on various culinary ventures, including pop-up dining experiences and private chef services. Teaming up with Chef Aaron Holt he has also been bringing haute cuisine to Iowa.

"My goal is still to open a farm-to-table restaurant right here in my hometown of Altoona. And so just figuring out how to do that correctly. I want to make sure I make the right connections with farmers in the area and then go from there. But it's definitely going to be a lot of that Midwest, definitely some Italian; there'll be pasta on the menu for sure."

"And then try to bring in and highlight — Iowa, we have a lot of really great local breweries - we're very spoiled when it comes to that. So being able to highlight some of those and use them not only in cooking but have them available to guests. Everything here is from Iowa, everything here is from down the road, and I just think that's super special.

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Photo Credits: FOX.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?