Masterchef Australia star announces surprising career move: 'I'm so excited for this chapter'
Savindri 'Sav' Perera placed third in season 16 of the beloved cooking show before featuring in the Back To Win series this year.
Now, Sav has revealed her next move, taking her place as a judge on the inaugural season of MasterChef Sri Lanka.
The former participant took to Instagram to share the big news of her new role and her excitement for the next chapter in her cooking journey.
'Never in a million years did I think this is where the little courageous step I took to apply for @masterchefau would take me,' she wrote.
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'Never did I once think that choosing to be so staunchly representative of my culture and native country would lead to this immense opportunity.'
The sweet caption accompanied pictures of Sav in her new judge position surrounded by her fellow judges who she described as 'the best of the best in Sri Lanka'.
'From Peter who put Sri Lanka on the map in many ways and is the face most non-Sri Lankans recognise all over the world, to veteran chef Rohan who is the head of the Bocuse d'Or committee for Sri Lanka (amongst his many many other accolades) to Kapila who is one of the most decorated chefs in Sri Lanka.
'I am a baby in my culinary journey amongst these stupendous names.'
She went on to confess that while she was over the moon about the opportunity, she initially felt 'not good enough' to take on the big role.
'In many ways when I first was approached, I felt underqualified. The imposter syndrome kicked in so hard and I felt completely not good enough. I spent a lot of time wondering what value I could add.'
However, the past few weeks have made her realise that her experience as a contestant was, in fact, her greatest strength on the judging panel.
'I know so intimately what it is like to be a contestant in the high stakes MasterChef kitchen. I know how it feels when you fail, the joy of a win and the despair of an elimination.'
'In many ways when I first was approached, I felt under qualified. The imposter syndrome kicked in so hard and I felt completely not good enough. I spent a lot of time wondering what value I could add,' she said
She finished off the post: 'I am grateful, I am humbled and truly so excited for this chapter.
'MasterChef changed my life - how special it is that I get to have a hand in changing someone else's.'
Last year, Sav tugged at MasterChef fans' heartstrings after revealing her behind-the-scenes battle with a crippling mental illness.
In a moving Instagram post, Sav opened up about her body dysmorphia - a psychological disorder in which an individual obsesses over a perceived flaw in their appearance.
'The amount of absolute hatred I have for myself after a lifetime of being made to feel ugly for being fat was immense,' Sav revealed in the raw post.
'Yet every morning I put my make-up on and show up because my desire to compete is bigger than my hatred for my appearance.'
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