The kitchen is heating up as Taste Master Junior Season 2 is officially underway!
Last week, the exciting first episode of Taste Master Junior Season 2 premiered on Tuesday, 7 October 2025 at 7:30 PM on SABC 2, serving up a feast of flavour, fun, and fierce young talent.
Don’t miss tonight’s episode 2, airing at 7:30 PM on SABC 2 and If you missed it, catch the repeats on Wednesdays at 1 PM and Sundays at 4 PM.
This year, 12 of South Africa’s most passionate young foodies are battling it out in the Taste Master Junior kitchen. Under the expert guidance of celebrity chef Zola Nene and master baker Fritz Schoon, these junior chefs are ready to chop, whisk, and plate their way to the top.
Now that the aprons are on and the cooking has begun, it’s time to get to know the talented cast behind the cutting boards.
Meet the contestants of Taste Master Junior Season 2!
1. Kimberly Porter
Kimberly is a 14-year-old from Midrand with a vibrant passion for all things food. Inspired by her parents, she has been cooking since the age of six and loves experimenting with new dishes, from baking to pickling. Her favourite meals include spaghetti Bolognese and chicken with veggies, and her biggest pride is seeing how much she has grown in the kitchen year after year.
2. Arona Yster
Arona is 14 years old and lives in Krugersdorp. Passionate about cooking and baking, she finds joy both in the kitchen and on the netball court. Inspired by her mom’s creativity, Arona dreams of using food to bring warmth to others. Her favourite dish is pasta with prawns, and she once helped cater a wedding for more than 100 guests — a moment that cemented her love for cooking.
3. Sarah Flowers
Sarah is 14 years old and lives in Pretoria. A born creative, she balances her love for painting, dancing, writing, and cooking with ease. Growing up in front of the camera, Sarah brings plenty of sparkle to everything she does. She loves cooking boeber and dumplings, with making dumplings from scratch being her proudest kitchen achievement.
4. Aphiwe Sithole
Aphiwe is 17 years old and lives in Germiston. His passion for cooking was sparked in Consumer Studies class, and with encouragement from his mother, he has come to see food as more than just a skill. When he’s not in the kitchen, Aphiwe enjoys cycling outdoors with his dad. Shepherd’s pie is his favourite dish to make, and stepping into The Taste Master Junior kitchen is already his greatest milestone.
5. Tshenolo Chimuka
Tshenolo, also known as Nolo or Tshetshe to friends and family, is 17 years old and lives in Johannesburg. A guitar player and maths enthusiast, she finds joy in baking and cooking. Inspired by food shows and supported by her family, Tshenolo loves preparing meat dishes and once cooked an entire family meal on her own — a moment that boosted her confidence and deepened her love for food.
6. Joy Nxumalo
Joy is 16 years old and lives in Pretoria West. She grew up cooking alongside her grandmother and mother, both of whom inspired her passion for food. With dreams rooted in faith and family, Joy loves making mac and cheese with mince and cherishes the memory of catering for her family and seeing the joy her cooking brought them.
7. Matthew Harvey
Matthew is 16 years old and lives in Steinkopf. He discovered his passion for cooking during lockdown, inspired by Fatima Sydow’s YouTube recipes. A fast learner with big dreams, Matthew loves preparing lasagna and is proud of starting his own food-selling hustle to earn pocket money and build confidence.
8. Leandri Joubert
Leandri is 15 years old and lives in Pretoria. A baking enthusiast, she dreams of studying culinary arts and opening her own café one day. She started with two-minute noodles and has since grown to love creating pasta dishes and baked treats. Her proudest achievement is bringing smiles to her loved ones through her cooking.
9. Rorisang Moloi
Rorisang is 15 years old and lives in Sebokeng. Bright and creative, he views food as a way to express himself. He began by helping his mom and granny in the kitchen and now enjoys experimenting with both traditional recipes and bold new dishes. Steak Diane is his favourite dish to cook, and preparing a big family meal gave him the confidence to dream bigger.
10. Tyler Robinson
Tyler is 17 years old and lives in Cape Town. Cooking runs in his blood, thanks to his chef dad who owns a restaurant. Determined to follow in his footsteps, Tyler dreams of becoming an executive chef. His favourite dishes are Beef Wellington and carbonara pasta, and one of his proudest moments was creating a three-course school breakfast that earned him high praise.
11. Kodi Bertish
Kodi is 15 years old and lives in Cape Town. Adventurous and creative, his passions include surfing, photography, and cooking. Inspired by his mom and nana in Scotland, he loves tapas-style dishes like pork potstickers and baking cupcakes from family recipes. His proudest kitchen achievement is creating a festive mozzarella-and-thyme Christmas tree starter.
12. Isaiah Jaganathan
Isaiah is 16 years old and lives in Johannesburg. His love for cooking began with his grandmother, who introduced him to the kitchen as a child. Outside of cooking, he enjoys music, board games, and spending time with friends. He loves bold flavours, especially Mexican food, and his proudest moment was preparing an entire Christmas dinner for his family on his own.
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