MasterChef judge Melissa Leong has announced her separation from husband Joe Jones

MasterChef star Melissa Leong has announced her separation from husband Joe Jones after three years of marriage.

Melissa Leong and husband Joe Jones have split. Picture: Christian Gilles

MasterChef judge Melissa Leong has announced her separation from husband Joe Jones.

Leong shared the sad news on Instagram under a picture of her and Jones holding hands.

“It has brought us such happiness to walk together, but the time has come for Joe and I to part ways and walk on, apart,’’ she wrote.

“We ask for your kindness and consideration for our privacy, we will not be making any further comment as our private lives have, and will always remain exactly that.

“We wish you peace at the end of such a challenging year for all.”

Leong has been the breakout star of this year’s MasterChef series, along with fellow new judges Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen.

Just last month the trio were in Sydney to accept an AACTA Award for best reality program.

She opened up in June about her relationship to the tattooed bar owner Jones, revealing they eloped and married after dating for only five months.

“I first met him briefly at his bar in Melbourne, Romeo Lane,’’ she told TV Week.

“Then we met again properly about 18 months later at a function. We started talking there and we’ve just not ever ceased since really. It’s pretty cool.”

The pair made the announcement on Instagram. Picture: Christian Gilles

Leong added “when you know, you know” and said they exchanged vows at Joshua Tree in California in 2017.

The 38 year-old foodie-turned TV judge was a proud wife when Jones appeared on MasterChef in April.

She wrote on Instagram soon after: “Shout outs to my awfully hot husbando for being a legend and agreeing to be on MasterChef with me.

“Not only is he a classically French trained chef with a specialist focus in pastry, he’s also an award-winning bartender and bar owner and one of the best things to ever happen me.”

Jones revealed on their third wedding anniversary this year that their work schedules had taken a toll.

He explained they were unlikely to celebrate the milestone together.

“Mel is in the depths of one of the most challenging, defining career moves of her life,’’ he wrote.

MasterChef Australia judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo with Gordon Ramsay. Picture: Supplied

“But I sort of believe the hard parts of your life overlapping and trying to dissolve your comfort is what living really is, and even if it gets heaps harder.”

Last month she was crowned Who’s Sexiest Person of 2020 which she described as an honour.

“To be an Asian woman on the cover of the Sexiest issue will also mean something to others who aren’t used to seeing difference in this capacity,’’ she said.

Leong also opened up earlier this year about her private struggles with clinical depression and that she uses a codeword on the MasterChef set to tell producers she’s struggling.

“There are times when I just need to go into a quiet space and shut the door and have half an hour to myself,’’ Leong said.

The new series of MasterChef is currently filming.