The sizzling fifth season of MasterChef South Africa moves into the show’s new home on S3 (formerly SABC3) on Saturday, 13 July at 19:30, with repeat broadcasts on SABC2 on Sundays at 18:30 and another chance to catch up on all the reality show cooking action on S3 on Wednesdays at 18:00. 

MasterChef South Africa Season 5 features 20 amateur chefs from across Mzansi with diverse backgrounds and different food dreams. 

Among these cooks are seven strong contenders, ready to slice and dice, bake and butter up the judges with their delicious meals.

One of this year’s TOP 20 MasterChef Contestants is the effervescent, Ella Bella Constantinides-Leite, she holds a Master’s degree in Dramatic Arts and Education from the University of the Witwatersrand, is of Greek descent, married the Portuguese love of her life and chose beautiful Sesotho and isiZulu names for her two children. She is the director of the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership and Empowerment Programme, which celebrates their 21^st year of sustainability and greening. She is a teacher, environmentalist, philanthropist and a foodie ready to take the MasterChef kitchen by storm.

This colourful home cook from Bedfordview is also a dynamic environmentalist who teaches in all corners of the country as part of the Miss Earth SA initiative; educating children and adults about biodiversity, recycling and preserving our national heritage and cleaver ways to upcycle and reuse their waste.

As such, she initiates projects ranging from planting trees and creating sustainable vegetable gardens to recycling projects, cleaning rivers and beaches, and feeding people in different communities weekly through the Merchants of Light, NGO that her and her sister, Catherine Constantinides started during COVID when the need for food was so desperate in communities.

With these bits of Ella Bella’s background, it makes perfect sense that she describes herself as the kitchen queen of leftovers.

“My food style is Mediterranean with a splash of South African fusion, like Baklava with Rooibos infused syrup- it’s delish”,  she adds, “and I have mastered sneaking veggies into all kinds of experimental dishes for the good of my family’s health and wellbeing.”

It brings her immense joy to host large dinner parties targeting the diverse taste buds of the mix of cultures and ages of her multitude of friends and Portu-Greek relatives. She speaks a little isiZulu, Xhosa and can say hello, goodbye, my name is, thank you and a I love you in about 5 more languages.  

Food is indeed a gift in Ella Bella’s eyes, and if she wins the competition, you might just see The Ella Bella Food Trucks on their way to the empty bellies in many communities to give a little hope, love and light to those in need.          

ELLA BELLA

Socials:                   @EllaBellaLeite

Hashtags:               #TeamEllaBella #MasterChefSA

Hair:                           Lanza Haircare South Africa

Skin Care:              Skin Renewal SA

Nails:                        Thandi’s Nails in Bedfordview