Age: 20

State: Victoria

Occupation: Agriculture Student

Instagram: @bella_di_conza

At 20 years of age, Bella Di Conza is one of the youngest competitors in the MasterChef kitchen for 2026. But youth will not be a hindrance for this ambitious and goal-oriented student with a huge passion for baking, and the skills to bring her delicious creations to life.

In the final year of her Agricultural degree, Bella’s studies have ensured her future career path has a pragmatic grounding and has inspired her to pursue her food dream, affirming she’s on the right path.

Raised in Melbourne alongside a younger sister and older brother, Bella’s love of cooking has been inspired and encouraged by her mother Lindy, as well as her dad’s mother, her Nonna Maddalena who was born in the southern Italian region of Campania. Growing up, Bella describes her Nonna’s house as a sanctuary where life moved at a slower pace, focussed on cooking and eating good food.

Whether it was making big batches of pasta or crostoli in her Nonna’s garage, or the family coming together to make passata every year, there were always memories made.

When Bella was just nine, she embarked on a project that she is still working on today, preserving the family’s traditions by documenting her Nonna’s precious recipes, and filming videos together making the dishes. Many of the recipes Bella has captured were taught to her Nonna as a young girl by her own mother and grandmother, solidifying the importance of family and heritage even further.

Identifying strongly with MasterChef champion Laura Sharrad since first watching her aged 9, Bella is inspired by all Laura has achieved and also loves the work of Emelia Jackson, Jess Liemantara and British pastry chef Nicola Lamb.

Desserts are Bella’s true obsession and she loves the science and structure behind sweets, with the creative freedom to experiment with unexpected flavours. Her current food dream is to own a patisserie where she can surprise people with her bold, out-of-the-box flavour combinations.

It’s clear that with Bella’s insatiable appetite for learning, the world is her oyster, and the MasterChef Australia kitchen just the first stop.