Fiery My Kitchen Rules contestant says she’s in it to win it for mum
CANLEY Heights social media influencer Betty Banks says she’s “in it to win it” — and not afraid to speak her mind — when it comes to her spot on My Kitchen Rules.
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CANLEY Heights resident and social media influencer Betty Banks says she’s “in it to win it” for her family on Channel Seven’s My Kitchen Rules this year.
The 27-year-old contestant was just three years old when her mother lost her sight. Betty moved back to her Canley Heights family home a year and a half ago to help care for her mother and the pair bonded over nights in front of the television “listening” to MKR.
“We’d sit down and take the time to listen to MKR because she’s totally in love with Manu (Feildel),” Betty said.
“When I told Mum I was on the show she started crying — happy tears. She couldn’t be more proud.”
Betty joins teammate David, a 32-year-old category manager from Punchbowl, with the aim of showcasing western Sydney’s world-class food.
“I’m here to prove that growing up in the west, we’re as authentic as possible and we are very multicultural as well,” Betty said.
“I grew up in a community full of South East Asian flavours. There’s people from Vietnam who have located themselves in Cabramatta and Canley Heights, and Laotians who have put the restaurant and night-life back into Canley Heights and Fairfield.”
Betty’s Laotian mother — who taught her and her sister to cook — has passed down many recipes such as raw beef and papaya salad.
“Mum taught me to cook really simple Laotian dishes that are packed full of flavour,” she said.
Betty’s teammate David — who tried and failed to get through the MKR casting process five times — encouraged her to sign up for the show. The pair met at a body piercing parlour.
Their relationship has been a talking point in MKR’s promos, with the couple billed as “just friends”.
“We’re like brother and sister and we’re going to stand up for each other no matter what happens,” David has said.
Betty is aware her job title ‘social media influencer’ may inspire incredulity in some viewers. The contestant is seen snapping selfies and food shots in the promos, and her Instagram boasts 40,400 followers.
“I think people are going to be inquisitive of what I actually do,” she said.
“We don’t have to be the typical lawyer or doctor to have success. You can also have a creative streak to get far as well.”
Betty also recognised that her tendency to speak her mind might rub contestants the wrong way.
“I’m brutally honest with everything that I say. You can’t just keep quiet all the time when people are poking and prodding you; you’ve got to fire back a little bit,” she said.
As for the competition, Betty and David are chasing pole position.
“We’re definitely in it to win it,” she said.
My Kitchen Rules returns Monday January 30.
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