My Kitchen Rules is back for its 2025, meaning there’s a new set of contestants ready to cook up a storm.
These contestants will need to wow judges Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge during the always-intense Instant Restaurant rounds if they want to stay in the game – and stay in the running for the $100,000 prize.
So, who is stepping into the MKR kitchen this year?
Meet all of the My Kitchen Rules 2025 contestants below…
Who are the gatecrashers?
After the first round of Instant Restaurants, three ‘gatecrasher’ teams were added to the 2025 My Kitchen Rules contestants list…
Danielle and Marko
Young, fun and totally TikTok-obsessed, Danielle and Marko are the kind of couple who light up any room they walk into.
They first met at a music festival seven years ago and have been inseparable ever since. Now living with Marko’s family in Perth while saving for their own home, the pair is serving up love, laughs and seriously good food.
Danielle, a project officer helping people with disabilities find employment, also runs a side hustle reviewing restaurants and bars around Perth.
Mark and Tan
Best mates Mark and Tan bonded five years ago over martial arts – and a couple of beers – and haven’t looked back.
Mark, a country boy turned city slicker, is a former personal trainer who now runs a sports and gym consulting business, while single-and-ready-to-mingle Tan owns three bars in Adelaide.
Thai-born Tan brings fierce competitiveness and hospitality smarts; Mark brings charm, cooking skills and even a few magic tricks.
Outgoing, honest and driven, the duo is ready to show MKR that bromance and big flavours can be a winning combo.
Amy and Lara
Aussie mums Amy and Lara are bold, brash and brimming with personality; the type of team who’ll make a splash (and maybe stir a little drama) at any dinner party.
Amy, a self-taught cook navigating life as a stay-at-home mum amid a divorce, is as quick with her quips as she is with a whisk.
Lara, a tech consultant with a wicked sense of humour, finds her creative outlet in the kitchen.
Who are the contestants for My Kitchen Rules in 2025?
Justin and Will
United by friendship, family and a fierce competitive streak, dads Justin and Will are bringing bold flavours and plenty of banter to the 2025 season of My Kitchen Rules.
Justin, a gym owner and foodie Instagrammer, started out making videos for his gym members before building a popular online following.
Charismatic, cheeky, and delightfully messy in the kitchen, he draws inspiration from his South African roots.
Will, a former NRL player for the Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters, is the calm counterpart to Justin’s chaos.
A devoted family man, he expresses his love through food, often serving up Tongan-inspired dishes with care and precision.
The best mates, who have the honour of being the first to cook this season, are ready to turn up the heat.
“We want to make it all the way to the finals and win this competition,” Justin says.
Anne and Maree
For Victorian mother-daughter team Anne and Maree, food isn’t just about flavour; it’s also about family, love and legacy.
Loud, proud and overflowing with personality, this inseparable pair is bringing the vibrant spirit of Greece to My Kitchen Rules.
“I am Greek, very Greek!” Anne declares with joy, and she’s ready to prove it one dish at a time.
Cooking from a treasured handwritten cookbook passed down by Anne’s late mother, the duo is determined to honour Yia-yia’s memory with every plate.
“She wrote all her recipes in this beautiful little book,” Anne shares, her voice full of emotion.
After waiting a decade for her MKR dream to come true, she’s finally here – and it’s all in tribute to her family. Will she and Maree impress Manu and Colin?
Maria and Bailey
South Australian duo Maria and Bailey are bringing boardroom-level ambition straight into the MKR kitchen.
Self-proclaimed high achievers, Maria runs her own business while Bailey manages five companies; so it’s no surprise they’re approaching the competition with the same drive they use in the corporate world.
“We’re here to win. We want to be on top,” Maria says, while Bailey adds, “I don’t care if we have to be really cut-throat.”
Their culinary style is just as bold as their personalities. Traditional Greek food? “Boring,” Maria declares.
Instead, the pair will serve up fine dining with a luxe twist, all from Bailey’s jaw-dropping three-story home, complete with a lift.
Michael and Rielli
Queensland couple Michael and Rielli are ready to bring the heat to My Kitchen Rules 2025; literally.
Michael, a self-proclaimed “meat master,” is all about bold cuts and bigger opinions, while Rielli, a baking queen with a pastry-perfect touch, balances his fire with sweetness. Together, they’re a recipe for both harmony and healthy debate.
“Meat is my passion,” Michael declares, a statement that’s bound to ruffle feathers – especially those of fellow MKR contestant Jacinta, who doesn’t eat meat.
Lol and Lil
Lifelong besties Lol and Lil are bringing big energy – and even bigger flavours – to My Kitchen Rules.
From Logan, Queensland, the dynamic duo (dubbed “the Logan bogans” by another MKR contestant we’re yet to meet) are all about good vibes, fast banter and fierce competition.
But don’t be fooled by their bubbly personalities; Lol and Lil are determined to win.
As Lil says, “We are cute, but we do bite.”
Mel and Jacinta
Fiesty cousins Mel and Jacinta are all set to shake things up – both literally and figuratively.
With Jacinta’s vibrant energy and nutritional know-how (she has a background in nutritional medicine) paired with Mel’s cool, calm confidence, these two are out to prove that healthy cooking can be simple, fun and absolutely delicious.
“Healthy food can be absolutely delicious,” Mel insists.
“You don’t have to miss out on the good stuff, even if you have dietary restrictions or intolerances.”
What do MKR contestants get paid?
The My Kitchen Rules contestants are not “paid” to be on the show.
Of course – like other reality shows – they are given a daily allowance.
According to the Daily Mail, in 2024 it was $1100 per week – just above average minimum wage.
“It certainly didn’t cover our usual salaries,” an anonymous 2024 MKR contestant claimed.
“I think one of our cast-mates was in debt after filming.”
A new season of My Kitchen Rules is “coming soon” to Channel 7 and 7plus.
