Meet the New MASTERCHEF Contestants; Season 5 Premieres Tonight

Host and award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay, restaurateur Joe Bastianich and acclaimed chef Graham Elliot return for Season Five of the culinary smash hit MASTERCHEF, premiering tonight, May 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

More hopefuls than ever before auditioned at MASTERCHEF's open casting calls in Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; and Phoenix, AZ to prove they have what it takes to make a mark on the culinary world. Only one talented home cook will join Season Four winner Luca Manfe; Season Three winner Christine Ha, the first-ever blind contestant; Season Two winner Jennifer Behm; and Season One winner Whitney Miller in the elite group of MASTERCHEF titleholders.

This season will feature 30 contestants representing 14 states from all walks of life - including an advertising executive, a petroleum landman, a stay-at-home-dad, an admissions counselor, a high school student and a church music director - all with the hopes of turning their culinary dreams into reality.

Below are the hometowns, names and professions of the Top 30 Home Cooks who participated in the MASTERCHEF auditions:

State/Hometown		Name		Profession
Alabama
	Birmingham		Elise Mayfield		e-Learning Administrator
Arizona
	Phoenix		Natanya Spears		Construction Coordinator
California
	Irvine		Gordon Houston		Law Student Graduate
	Los Angeles		Daniel McGuffey		Video Game Designer
	Malibu		Leslie Gilliams		Stay-at-Home-Dad
	Palo Alto		Ahran Cho		High School Student
	Tarzana		Amy Pezeshkifar		Graduate Student
	Yorba Linda		Ruth Schreber Sanchez		Stay-at-Home Mom
Florida
	Orlando		Francis Biondi		Server

Idaho
	Star		Chandis Siwek		Dietician Intern
Illinois
	Chicago		Rickie Perez		Food Truck Manager
Kentucky
	Lexington		Dan Wu		Unemployed
	Pikeville		Corey Charles		Winery Manager
Louisiana
	Mandeville		Astrid Lavenia		Food Sales
	New Orleans		Christian Green		Sales Representative
	Thibidaux		Michael Williams		Student
Michigan
	Detroit		Stephani Syfax-Shepherd		Server
New York
	Brooklyn		Elizabeth Cauvel		Advertising Executive
	New York City		Francis Legge		Music Video Director
	Queens		Jaimee Vitolo		Bakery Assistant
	Yonkers		Christine Silverstein		Investment Director
Ohio
	Columbus		Whitney Bray		Call Center Representative
	Wilmington		Tyler Viars		Hunting Sales Manager
	Youngstown		Kira Novak		Medical Recruiter
Pennsylvania
	Meadville		Gavin Edmondson		Admissions Counselor
	Philadelphia		Courtney Lapresi		Aerial Dancer
Texas
	Beaumont		Cutter Brewer		Petroleum Landman
	Houston		Willie Mike		Church Music Director
	San Angelo		Victoria Scroggins		Bartender
Wisconsin
	Muskego		Jordan Kaminski		College Student

In the premiere episode, 30 of the best home cooks in America will travel to Los Angeles to present their signature dishes to the distinguished judging panel: Ramsay (Gordon Ramsay Steak, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Gordon Ramsay BurGR), Bastianich (Del Posto, Osteria Mozza) and Elliot (Graham Elliot Bistro). The judges will taste for flavor, creativity and presentation. In order to earn a coveted white apron and move to the next round, the home cooks must have an immense passion for food and be determined to out-cook their rivals.

Once the Top Finalists are revealed, they will be put through their paces in a series of challenges designed to test their palates, food knowledge, passion and culinary skills. This season, the contestants will work in teams to prepare a hearty meal for more than 500 hungry servicemen and women on an army base, create an unforgettable three-course meal for a summer wedding, visit a local diner to prepare American classics, cook a romantic dinner for 14 couples, serve game-day favorites for hungry football fans and take command of a legendary Hollywood restaurant. With each new challenge, the pressure will mount as the Top Finalists compete for the coveted title of MASTERCHEF, a cookbook deal and the $250,000 grand prize.

MASTERCHEF is produced by Shine America and One Potato Two Potato and is based on the format created by Franc Roddam and Shine. Shine International handles distribution for the MASTERCHEF format. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Paul Franklin, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers.

"Like" MASTERCHEF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion with #masterchef.

About One Potato Two Potato

Renowned for award-winning original programming, the company produces high-quality TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic, including the smash-hit HOTEL HELL, which was the highest-rated new network show of summer 2012 and whose second season returns to FOX in July; the blockbuster MASTERCHEF and new hit MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, both for FOX; major food competition series "Food Court Wars," the second season of which is currently airing; "Best New Restaurant," a new cable series premiering soon, as well as massive U.K. hit "Gordon Ramsay Behind Bars" and "Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape," for Channel 4; and "My Kitchen," for UKTV's Good Food Channel.

About Shine America

Shine America is the U.S. division of Shine Group, an award-winning global production and distribution organization with 30 production companies across 12 countries. Shine America is a leading television studio that creates inspired and compelling programming, including current unscripted series MASTERCHEF (FOX), MasterChef Junior (FOX), "The Biggest Loser" (NBC), "Minute to Win It" (GSN),"The Face" (Oxygen) and upcoming Riot (FOX). Scripted series include Peabody Award-winning "The Bridge" (FX), as well as upcoming dramas GRACEPOINT (FOX) and "Utopia" (HBO).

Shine America incorporates several divisions, including unscripted format label Ardaban, which develops and distributes original content to the U.S. marketplace, including series "Beat The House" (HGTV) and "The One That Got Away" (TLC). The global Shine 360? division builds brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Shine Group's distribution arm, Shine International, distributes Shine America's extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries.