Samira El Khafir

Hometown	Melbourne, VIC
Age	28 (Season 5) 39 (Season 17)
Occupation	Stay-at-home Mom (Season 5) Businesswoman & Cafe Owner (Season 17)
Statistics
Skills Test(s) Won	2
Elimination Test(s) Won	1
Team Challenge(s) Won	7
Pressure Test(s) Survived	14
Top Entries	1
Bottom Entries	7
Placement	3rd (Season 5) 14th (Season 17)

Samira El Khafir is a finalist on MasterChef Australia Season 5 & a contestant on Season 17. She is placed 3rd on Season 5 & 14th on Season 17.

Biography

Retrieved from 10play.com.au

Season 5

A qualified hairdresser and former telecommunications worker, Samira lives with husband and her two daughters Nada (3) and Mariam (1).

Samira cites her top three loves as her girls, shoes and bags. She is also a sports lover, particularly AFL.

Samira says her mother's cooking is the best food she has ever eaten and her love of food has grown from family get-togethers throughout her life.

"The feeling you experience when you have good food around is amazing."

While her expertise is traditional Middle Eastern cooking, it was a shepherd's pie she made for Ramadan that inspired her to follow her passion when she realised she could touch people with her food.

"Everyone was laughing, not wanting to try it, but all of a sudden it was all eaten and I was asked for the recipe. It felt amazing to know people loved my dish enough to want to start cooking it for their family at home. That was the moment I fell in love."

Her dream is to open kitchen workshops for disadvantaged children in Australia where they can come and cook, have a good time and go home with the meals they've prepared.

"I just want to put a smile on their faces."

Season 17

For Samira El Khafir, the time is right to renew her cooking groove and show Australia that she is Back To Win. After finishing third in season five of MasterChef Australia, Samira changed the course of her life, throwing herself headfirst into a culinary career that has been as varied as it has been successful.

In the 12 years since she last cooked in the MasterChef Australia kitchen, the former hairdresser and telecommunications worker has juggled her new path in food with raising her young family, now proud mum to two daughters and two sons. Role modelling to her kids the importance of chasing your dreams, Samira has gone after hers with an undeniable passion and determination to succeed.

With her previous MasterChef Australia experience fuelling both her skill and confidence, Samira has launched a number of businesses in the food industry, the first of which was her own café, Modern Middle Eastern, where she curated authentic menus, full of flavour. Samira also staged six-course Arabian Nights private fine dining events before launching her own low-carb product range, called Eat With Love, which shipped Australia-wide. In 2014, she also published a book of the same name, showcasing her modern take on traditional Middle Eastern cuisine.

A self-taught cook inspired by her own mum in the kitchen, food has always formed a huge part of how Samira fosters her strong connection to community.  In recent years, she has focussed her energy on recipe development and menu writing, working alongside varied brands and manufacturers. With her children now a little older, Samira feels ready to put herself out there on MasterChef Australia once again and see where this adventure might lead.

With her competitive spirit destined to propel her through the competition, Samira takes inspiration from her travels and plans to call on flavours from across the Middle East, and beyond. An organised cook who can think on her feet, Samira hopes to explore opportunities in food tourism, ready to showcase the amazing flavours that both Australia and the Middle East have to offer.

External links

Samira El Khafir on Instagram