Viviana Barile would like to put an end to online speculation about her and her MKR teammate Simone Prest.
“I’ve been surprised some people think our accent is fake,” Viviana laughs. “Trust me, if I could speak proper English, I would!”
The Italian friends have made a big impact on the competition, achieving the highest instant restaurant score in MKR history.
The total of 104 points left Simone “completely speechless”. He explains, “The emotions just got the better of me.”
The duo, who live in Brisbane, know exactly what they’d do with their share of the $100,000 prize money if they won. Barber-shop owner Viviana would reinvest the money in her business, so she could “finally” have financial security, while Simone, who runs a takeaway store, would bring his dad to Australia. “It’s been his dream to join me here and this would finally make it possible,” he says.
While Simone has a partner and says she is “really supportive” of him doing MKR, Viviana is single and a “mum” to two cats.
“Maybe someone will fall in love with me from the screen and finally ask me to dinner,” she grins. “I swear I don’t bite!”
MKR Australia screens 7.30pm Mondays and Tuesdays, and 7pm Sundays on TVNZ 2, streaming on TVNZ+.
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