Adelaide My Kitchen Rules contestant Ash Irwin shares her multiple sclerosis diagnosis ahead of reality show’s new season
Nothing was going to stop Adelaide’s Ash Irwin from starring on the latest season of My Kitchen Rules - not even a potentially debilitating chronic disease.
Nothing was going to stop Adelaide’s Ash Irwin from starring on the latest season of My Kitchen Rules - not even a potentially debilitating chronic disease.
A month after applying for Seven’s reality cooking show, Ms Irwin’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
But the brave mother-of-one decided to push ahead with the series alongside her good friend, Cassandra Lawless.
“In hindsight, it made me more driven to want to get on the show and inspire others who might be in a similar position to me… to try and utilise every opportunity that comes in life,” said Ms Irwin, 32, who has a two-year-old girl.
An auto-immune disease which affects the central nervous system, MS is three times more common in women than men, with the majority aged between 20 and 40 when first diagnosed.
Ms Lawless, 32, said at the time she was “a bit unsure” if her friend would want to continue with the audition process.
“It was all (happening) as we were going through the auditions and then getting on the show,” she said.
“But she did and nothing held her back – it’s amazing.”
Ms Irwin said her MS is “stable” but she experiences some reduced sensation in her fingers on her left hand side and some tingling and numbness in her legs.
She conceded she got a bit “rundown” while filming the series, though it had little impact on her performance in the kitchen.
“I was probably sick for the entire time of filming,” Ms Irwin said.
“I do suffer from fatigue and tiredness but that can just come from being a new mum. And my immune system is a little bit lower from the treatment that I’m on.”
A dietitian by trade, Ms Irwin said there can be a “stigma” around having a chronic disease but she’s staying positive.
“I’m feeling really good in my body. I know some people have said to me, ‘You’ve got MS but you look really healthy’, she said.
“It’s just everyone’s perception of a chronic disease.
“Life hasn’t changed for me. It just makes me more grateful. I don’t take things for granted any more and I’ve surrounded myself with my beautiful friends and family. Cassie has been incredibly supportive, my husband too, and the team that looks after me is amazing.”
A fellow dietitian and mother, Ms Lawless said the pair has vowed to try and use their appearance on MKR to show that healthy food doesn’t have to be bland or boring.
“Not a lot of salt, fat or sugar is used in some of our recipes - but we love using chilli and fresh herbs and spices - so it’ll be interesting to see how that is received by the public,” she said.
Ms Lawless said they wanted to inspire other Aussies to get back in the kitchen and cook delicious and wholesome food.
“I think they might be quite surprised because people think we just eat salads and chicken and broccolini,” she said.
“But when they see us on the show, we’re cooking with diverse cuts of meat, and other little tweaks that we do with our recipes that make them healthier but not what they expect.”
MKR starts Monday September 9 on Channel 7 and 7plus.
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Originally published as Adelaide My Kitchen Rules contestant Ash Irwin shares her multiple sclerosis diagnosis ahead of reality show’s new season
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