Age: 58

State: New South Wales

Occupation: Homemaker

Instagram: @lydiakamperos

Married for 38 years to husband Sam, with two adult children who have just left the family home, Lydia Kamperos describes her childhood as no different to the My Big Fat Greek Wedding family. The home was always full of extended family visiting and over-the-top feasts, with their Greek culture always prioritised.

Lydia remembers as a child watching the basting of a whole lamb turning on the spit every Easter, the smell washing over her as a piece of crispy, salty skin was pulled straight off and handed to her to devour. For Lydia, good food is always linked with a noisy, fun gathering full of family and friends.

Lydia learned to cook from her mother, aunties and uncles, alongside Australian Women’s Weekly cookbooks and cooking shows like MasterChef Australia. Now stepping onto centre stage herself, it feels surreal, but also the perfect time for this foodie adventure.

Growing up, most of Lydia’s relatives owned food-related businesses; takeaway shops, seafood shops and chicken shops. She and Sam are a food-obsessed match made in heaven, and over the years, Lydia has played an integral support role in the pair’s various takeaway shops, the admin hero behind the scenes, helping the businesses to shine.

With her son and daughter – hands down her greatest achievements – now out of the house, Lydia finds herself gifted with more time and the chance to put herself first after many years.

Self-described as fun-loving and a little loud, Lydia is a curious and competitive cook who always derives joy from feeding others. The judges can expect mastery of big Mediterranean flavours from Lydia, who knows her creativity will shine in the kitchen. Staying calm under time pressure, though, may sometimes be a challenge for this cook who can’t help but wear her heart on her sleeve.

With possible future food dreams extending to a food truck or café, whatever might lay ahead, Lydia firmly believes that the MasterChef kitchen is where she is meant to be right now, focused on personal growth and laying the groundwork for her next move in food.