Bridget Mangwandi has emerged as the winner of MasterChef South Africa Season 5 in what has been termed a show of culinary creativity and splendor. With her win, the 20-year-old became the first black female winner from South Africa and the world’s youngest MasterChef winner.
The season finale saw a showdown between Mangwandi and 23-year-old Nabila Shamshum, a school secretary from Johannesburg, after Durban’s Chanel Brink, 34, was announced as the second runner-up.
Mangwandi soared to the top while receiving moral support from her biggest fan, her mother. Her mom and Nabila’s parents joined the season’s previously eliminated contestants to witness the cook-off.
For the young chef, winning the competition symbolizes possibility, resilience, inspiration, and excellence.
“This win is a victory not only for me but for every young black girl who dreams of extraordinary feats. I hope this inspires the next generation to believe the world is their oyster, as I always tell myself.”
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Sharing the news via her Instagram page, she wrote:
Today, I’m holding more than just a trophy—I’m holding a dream turned reality, a vision brought to life, and the proof that nothing is impossible. The youngest MasterChef winner in the world. The first Black female winner in South Africa. Two milestones. One moment. History made.
They’ll ask how I got here, and the answer will always be the same: resilience, faith, and never letting the noise distract me from the mission. This is bigger than me—it’s a celebration of breaking barriers, rewriting stories, and showing that greatness is ours to claim. And to anyone still wondering: Yes, you can. You are capable. You are worthy. You are unstoppable.
Let’s toast to history in the making, and trust me—this is only the beginning.
Bridget Mangwandi takes home a remarkable R1 million and a coveted title that positions her as a trailblazer in the cooking competition.
