John Demetrios was crowned the winner of Dessert Masters 2024 in an emotional grand final episode on Sunday evening.
He walks away with the title and $100,000 in prize money.
The pastry chef received the highest score from judges Melissa Leong and Amaury Guichon for his final dessert, beating out fan favorites Christy Tania and Emelia Jackson.
The trio were tasked with creating a dessert inspired by ‘iconic Australian colours’ and delivered breathtaking creations to impress the original and guest judges.
Although all three finalists presented remarkable desserts, it was Demetrios who secured the win with a near-perfect score of 38 out of 40.
Jackson came close with a score of 36, while Tania finished with 30 points.
John Demetrios was crowned winner of Dessert Masters 2024 in an emotional grand final episode on Sunday evening
The pastry chef received the highest score from judges Melissa Leong and Amaury Guichon for his final dessert, beating out fan favorites Christy Tania and Emelia Jackson
“How did I beat a 36? With a 38. Exactly,” Demetrios said after his victory, still in disbelief.
“It will take a few days to process this,” he admitted.
‘When I looked at their dishes, I didn’t think I would come out on top. So I think that says so much. This whole competition has been a real challenge, but I’m so grateful for it.”
The win marked the culmination of weeks of fierce competition with Australia’s best pastry talent taking the spotlight.
Judge Melissa Leong praised all three finalists, telling them, “You stand tall among the Titans.”
She praised Tania’s resilience, saying, “You’ve proven that you are exactly where you need to be,” and celebrated Jackson’s return to the kitchen where she first launched her career as a pastry chef.
As he hoisted the winner’s trophy into the air to cheers and applause, Demetrios was visibly emotional, exclaiming, “Aaaargh! Yes!’
The crowd erupted when the $100,000 prize was presented, cementing his status as the country’s top dessert maestro.