Growing up in a family of eight – in Zimbabwe, then moving to South Africa and ultimately immigrating to Australia – food has always been a big part of Ralph Kahango’s childhood.
While the MasterChef Australia contestant experienced some dark periods, it’s these struggles that have pushed him to look on the bright side of life and pursue his love of cooking.
The amateur chef – already known for singing during the high-pressure cook-offs – tries to remain positive in stressful situations, knowing first- hand how unexpectedly life can change.
“You’re well one minute and then in the blink of an eye, you’re sick – and the next minute, you could pass away,” muses Ralph, 32. “That’s a big drive for me.”
Ralph with his mum now and as a teenager.
Ralph was 17 when he endured the tragedy of losing a brother, but little did he know there was more heartache to come. “A year later, I lost a second brother,” he reveals. “That’s when it hit home. My parents lost two sons. We lost two siblings.”
Ralph’s secret to remaining positive is to always celebrate the joys in life. “When bad things happen, we tend to dwell on them, but when something good happens, we don’t celebrate it enough.”
Fortunately, despite their hard times, Ralph’s family is cheering him on all the way on his MasterChef journey.
He tells, “My mum’s a big supporter, but my younger sister would be my biggest – she’s over the moon. She’s so happy I decided to follow the passion that makes me happy.”
