Local 9 Year Old Connecticut Girl Competes on Fox’s MasterChef Junior!

---

We’ve watched every single MasterChef season since it began, but we couldn’t help ourselves when they put out the first ever MasterChef Junior last year. The premise? 16 young and talented kids compete in mystery box challenges and pressure challenges to see who will become the MasterChef. Our favorite from last year, Alexander, actually won, so it was great to see his success. What did he get? $100,000, the MasterChef trophy, and world-wide recognition . . . the same things that are up for grabs this year!

And, wouldn’t you know, he was back for the season premiere of MasterChef Junior Season 2! Among the 16 contestants that started, there was a 9 year old girl named Oona. She’s the one to watch, people. Not only is she from New Haven, showing Connecticut some love, but she also got some major props tonight. First of all, she was one of three contestants who had the top three dishes from the mystery box challenge: spicy seared pork loin. Also, two of the judges were especially fond of her second dish during the pressure challenge. Chef Gordon Ramsay told her that her chicken liver pate (what child actually makes a pate? Amazing!) was delicious, while Chef Graham Elliot told her that her dish was amazing. He continued on, gushing with his fondness for the dish, saying that she should be renamed “Uno” because her dish was number one.

Sadly, four of the contestants had to leave the show, but as you might know if you follow the show, you also find out who the top three are each week. Well, wouldn’t you know it, but CT’s very own Oona rose to the top and was in the trio of top chefs.

MasterChef Junior airs on Fox at 8 pm on Tuesdays.

Let’s go Oona, we’re cheering for you!