MasterChef Australia contestant Khanh Ong has spoken about the challenges of being gay and coming out in the Vietnamese community.

Speaking to TV Week, Ong shared that he found it hard to accept that he was gay when he was younger.

“Being gay in our culture isn’t really a thing, so that was hard for me,” the 25-year old aspiring Chef told TV Week.

“You go through the first half of your life pretending you’re not gay; that what you’re feeling isn’t normal.”

Ong said he often felt like an outsider because he was a refugee and because of his sexuality. He shared that last year’s endorsement of same-sex marriage Australia was moment he found particularly poignant.

After impressing the judges with his pork belly dish in the auditions Khanh Ong has survived many rounds of the reality cooking show. He’s just one of six contestants remaining on the show.

MasterChef Australia airs Monday to Thursday, and Sunday, 7:30pm on Network Ten.

OIP Staff